Teachers at a South Korean academy that was forced to close earlier this year say the B.C. Ministry of Education ignored anonymous emails sent to them prior to the shutdown, warning that the South Korean government could target the school.

The emails — from an anonymous whistleblower to an upper-level B.C. Ministry of Education official — appear to discuss the Canada B.C.International School (CBIS) and date back to Jan. 23.

In April, the South Korean government raided the school and ordered 14 Canadian teachers to leave the country, saying their work visas were improper.

The private academy of 160 students, catering to affluent Koreans, was licensed by the owner of the school and taught by B.C.-certified teachers.

The email chain was passed on to a group of teachers who were ordered deported from South Korea on April 11, because immigration officials said their workplace was not licensed properly, and their teaching visas were illegal.

They passed on the emails to the CBC, as they prepared to leave the country several had planned to make their permanent home.

The emails warned the school was improperly licensed more than two months before the immigration raid, and B.C. officials appear to have done nothing, until the teachers faced deportation.

The ministry has refused interview requests on the matter, but has posted plans to review the offshore school program by July 2017, as 11 schools, including some in the U.K. and U.S., may be affected.

CBIS is one of 42 offshore schools where thousands of students are taught the B.C. curriculum, which is licensed by the institution. Five of these schools operate in Korea, where teachers are using the same work visas as the teachers who faced deportation.

These schools, part of an international student industry, were estimated to be worth more than $230-million to B.C. in 2013 and worth more than $7-billion in Canada.

Kristen Hendricks, a Grade 3 teacher from the Canada B.C. International School (CBIS), sobs as she recalls her arrest by immigration officials on April 11 in South Korea. (Faustus Salvador/Youtube)

The emails written to the B.C. Ministry of Education, warn that teachers will suffer if the school closes

"My primary concern is the students and teachers of the school. If the school gets shut down multiple people will be victims," said one email by a writer identified only as a B.C. educator who urges provincial officials to help the teachers who were eventually all forced to leave South Korea.

The emails say the school's business licence was cancelled in 2016.

Complaints against the institution date back to 2013, and Korean media reported the Korean Supreme Court found the school was breaking the law, but it continued operations, the writer says.

"I don't believe the teachers have any idea about the visa situation. They are hard-working, exploited people who are in a miserable position," said a message that appeared to have been written April 4.

An email that appears to have been sent April 7 — one day after the school was inspected by a contractor paid by the B.C. government — warns teachers were unaware they were working illegally and must be protected.

The manager of the offshore school program in the Ministry of Education appears to respond, confirming the emails were received and the International Education Branch was investigating.

"The Ministry has taken action and will follow up," read one email.

But teachers say they were given no warning before immigration officials showed up and escorted them out of their workplace.

They say they had no communication from the B.C. Ministry of Education between January and April 11, other than a two-day school inspection April 4 to 6.

"We feel we have been held accountable for the actions and negligence of our school owners and the B.C. Ministry of Education," the CBIS teachers group said.

The teachers want sweeping changes to the offshore school system to prevent the "nightmare ordeal" they've gone through.

The 14 B.C.-certified teachers were ordered to leave South Korea on April 11, according to the B.C. government.

The CBIS was visited by South Korean immigration officials who demanded the teachers leave the country within 30 days and stay out for one year, putting a permanent mark on their passports.

Later in April, the B.C. Ministry of Education confirmed "the school did not have appropriate local licensing."

The academy, popular with affluent Koreans, was licensed as a kindergarten and teachers were working on E-2 visas, instead of E-7 visas for international school teachers.

Canada B.C. International School (CBIS) staff say they were suddenly ordered out of South Korea on April 11. (B.C. Government/Youtube)

The owner of the school, South Korean-based Han Jong Hee CBIS Corporation Ltd., struggled with administrative issues, former school staff said.

Global Affairs Canada has said the matter is beyond its jurisdiction.

The B.C. Liberals' media spokesperson referred the CBC to Ministry of Education officials, who said they can't comment until the next government is in place.

The owner of the academy has not responded to several emailed requests for an interview.