Najma Baksh has been looking for work as an elementary teacher since she graduated from teacher's college in June 2015, so when she saw an online posting in August for a teaching position at a private school, she applied immediately.

But she says her attitude changed as soon as she found out she'd be paying the school to teach there.

Baksh was called to take part in a three-hour test at Guru Tegh Bahadur International School at 180 Sandalwood Pkwy E. in Brampton — not far from her home — with an interview to follow.

She said the test was challenging and by the end three other candidates left without finishing.

The principal and owner of the school, Sanjiv Dhawan, met with Baksh immediately following the test.

Baksh said she was offered a position on the spot, though she said Dhawan "was very blunt," about two conditions: a two-month unpaid trial and a $2,000 security deposit.

As a desperate teacher I was like, 'Okay, what am I willing to do to get this job?' - Najma Baksh

With so many others looking for teaching work, she thought, "as a desperate teacher I was like, 'Okay, what am I willing to do to get this job?'"

Baksh, who is also the daughter of a CBC News producer, needed the experience to start the career she had been dreaming about but she couldn't make sense of how she was expected to pay for that.

She was willing to "volunteer or whatever you want to call it but giving $2,000 to the school is kind of shady." She left without accepting the offer.

Principal defends practices

Dhawan said the school, which offers kindergarten to Grade 12 classes for 140 students, started about a year-and-a-half ago.

When CBC Toronto questioned the principal about Baksh's story, Dhawan said he came up with the security deposit to ensure he had a commitment from his employees after three teachers left without proper notice for better paying positions.

He was concerned about employee turnover and said "there are students who will suffer."

In one instance, he said he was forced to cancel a high school art class when he couldn't find a replacement.

As for asking for an unpaid commitment, Dhawan said didn't feel the applicants had the skills required to teach at a private school and they still needed training.

"Since we are charging fees from the parents and their expectations are very high ... we have to give them more than what they get from a normal school," he said.

Many applicants have appropriate academic qualifications but don't remember Ministry of Education policies, he said.

His application test includes questions about the ministry's 2010 policies on "growing success," which he said the applicants consistently fail to answer correctly.

Guru Tegh Bahadur International School "is a very specialized school," he said, so he hired a private company to train his new teachers. He said it costs him tens of thousands of dollars.

We have to train our people to the expectations of the parents. - Sanjiv Dhawan, owner Guru Tegh Bahadur International School

"We have to train our people to the expectations of the parents who send their kids to the school," Dhawan said.

He added the new hires sign contracts agreeing to his terms for the unpaid two months and to give the deposit, which is refunded at the end of the academic year.

'Strange' practice

Both practices were a surprise to professionals at a recent job fair for prospective teachers in Toronto.

Bruce MacDonald, a recruiter with the New Brunswick Department of Education, said in his 30 years hiring educators he's never heard of something like this.

"It's something quite strange to me. It's unique. I would certainly be asking questions," he said.

Joanna Paul, a recruiter for an international school in the Bahamas, said occasionally prospective teachers register with international search agencies to share their applications.

But "it's very rare you have to pay to play," she said.

Usually, she said private school offers often include extra incentives for teachers to sign on.

Ontario's rules

Ontario's Ministry of Labour has a complaints-based process for unpaid wages and doesn't have any regarding Guru Tegh Bahadur International School.

The Employment Standards Act (ESA) doesn't permit unpaid internships, unless they are in exchange for a school course credit.

When CBC Toronto informed Dhawan of this, he said all his employees signed contracts that are clear about the terms.

But even if an employee signed a contract, the Ministry of Labour requires employers to pay an hourly minimum wage.

The ESA does not prohibit security deposits but there are additional protections for foreign nationals looking for work.

The Ministry of Education said private schools operate as non-profit businesses and while they don't have to follow school board policies the curriculum has to follow ministry standards.

Heather Irwin, a spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of Education, said Guru Tegh Bahadur International School submitted a notice of intention to operate as a private school in September 2015. The ministry conducted inspections in October 2015 and June 2016, with another scheduled for next school year.

Have you ever been offered a job with conditions like unpaid trials? Contact torontotips@cbc.ca to share your story.