Job Discussion Forums

Sleepwalker · Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 454 Location: Reading the screen

The college I worked at made it a requirement that anyone teaching English (Omani or expat) had to complete a CELTA during the first year of employment. They could take a loan for the fees and either repay from salary or trade it off over service time. The CELTA students were allowed to leave early for classes and the rest of us took a few extra hours. It was a great system.

The Omanis with CELTAs were talented teachers to start with but really improved. None were eligible for Masters sponsorship because they were SQU graduates and the GPA wasn't as high as others who studied abroad or in private colleges. It was a sore point at the time (and probably still is).

MuscatGary · Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2014 5:48 pm Post subject:

Sleepwalker · Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 454 Location: Reading the screen

Judging by these teachers, the grading had been as rigorous as a decent university in the west. I've been at interviews with CAS graduates and I've never been impressed.

I work with four Omani teachers now - 3 have CELTAs and the other has a Teacher Training Certificate from Moray House, Edinburgh. All are SQU graduates and very good teachers.

MuscatGary · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2014 11:07 am Post subject:

Sleepwalker · Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 454 Location: Reading the screen

You have my sympathies.....

Tazz · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 512 Location: Jakarta

Don't think the CELTA course contains a component called 'how too engage the largely hostile, disaffected Omani youth' of the MOM colleges-think the instruction is aimed at teaching those who are inclined to actually learn. From an expat point of view, I think a week in an army boot camp would be more useful....

MuscatGary · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2014 7:09 am Post subject:

MuscatGary · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2014 2:27 pm Post subject:

The MoM has confirmed that the 2 year ban on ex-pat returns remains in place and came into force on July 1st. They also state that the number of ex-pats with be reduced by 25% from the current 44% to 33% of the workforce.

http://www.timesofoman.com/News/36527/Article-Ministry-of-Manpower-Plan-to-eliminate-hidden-ownership-in-Oman

omanoman · Joined: 11 Jun 2014 Posts: 140

That article is more specifically referring to blue collar workers but the main point is regarding ownership rules. One of many changes needed in the regulation of businesses.

Still no clarification about what exactly the 2 year rule means for white-collar expats, like teachers and whether they are able to move to another job after completing the first contract.

MuscatGary · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2014 7:07 am Post subject:

omanoman · Joined: 11 Jun 2014 Posts: 140

MG, that is from the original story from JUNE 14 - the one that is still under discussion and we have had a thread on it here.

Your post earlier is referring to a different, recent newspaper story and so my comments were referring to that one.

Am I keeping up?

MuscatGary · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2014 11:31 am Post subject:

Whoops! Link within a link problem. Doesn't change the fact that the language was, and is, clear enough: it applies to EVERYONE.

omanoman · Joined: 11 Jun 2014 Posts: 140

We went over this when the original story came out. Since that time, there has been more discussion about what it actually means for employees who fulfill their contract and wish to change jobs.

The issue that the employer will be punished for allowing a visa transfer is still unclear from the ministry itself .

Like many decisions here, it wasn't fully thought through and the real life effects have yet to be seen. The big economic families who employ most of the expats will have their say and influence of course.

My bet is that if you do complete your contract, you will still be able to move to another job in Oman.

MuscatGary · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:32 pm Post subject: