Job Discussion Forums

[RedLightning]

Initially, I had hoped to post this several months ago, so as to provide those considering employment at ISC Erbil (Sabis) an updated account. Though I failed in this regard, perhaps the details of my experience will nonetheless go appreciated by current 'new hires' and those who will find themselves to be such in the coming months.

As a quick search on your own part will yield, the school has been condemned on every front possible. Obviously, I cannot make comment to the experiences of others years past, although I will say that my own time at the school offered no showdown with the administration, word of departing teachers being forced to pay the school $10,000+, or anything of the sort( again, I do not dismiss these claims).

With regard to salary, I continue to respect a ‘Confidential Information’ clause in my contract. For that reason, I will only say that as a SINGLE, WESTERN teacher living comfortably on a budget of $500/month (a cheapskate perhaps $200), one can save over $24,000. That said, I highly recommend travelling during the year, which would of course reduce your savings.
When in interview, be perfectly clear as to what positions you will and will not take- ‘English Teacher’ is not specific to which grade level. The school will not ‘force’ you to change departments at your arrival, but they will certainly ask should the need arise.

In truth, I personally approve of the curriculum, as least so far as the actual content is concerned. I believe the frustration many teachers speak of is born from the inability we have to implement supplemental materials or activities that would allow fuller understanding and enjoyment for the students. In theory, you can approach your HOD and get approved such material, but there is simply no time, given the amount of work that students MUST complete in a given week.

If you are in lower primary, you will have twice the job as any other department, with no additional pay.
Again, with respect to the ‘Confidential Information’ clause, I will not go into specifics of the testing structure, but teachers of Upper primary, Middle School, and High School have an additional 3 weeks off during the school year. Moreover, lower primary teachers have an EXTREMELY heavy workload during these times. Add to this, discipline is a major issue. It is far too easy to simply say that these are ‘spoiled rich kids’, rather, teachers are simply not afforded any power – we cannot speak to parents nor can we assign detention of any sort (administration, of course, can). We have to rely entirely upon the hallway supervisors, a dynamic that no doubt further diminishes your authority in the classroom –

“Johnny, sit down”
“No”
“That’s it, I’m going to tell the supervisor on you”

Despite all of this, I do not for one minute regret having taught in lower primary. This is a truth I would have never thought possible until we said goodbye to our students on the last day of school – a ceremony of sorts.
To be clear on the issue of discipline, the majority of students are well behaved. As in the West, in a class of 30 you will have 2 to 3 who are problematic.

Here is my advice-

-Somewhere between 3 weeks – 2 months you will become overwhelmed. Stick with it, you’ll find a balance and at this point the stress will subside.
-Roll with the punches, there will be a few.
-Be respectful yet firm; here more than anywhere kindness is mistaken for stupidity, few words for few thoughts.
-All things considered, I would actually recommend the job to a friend (yes, yes, with friends like me, who needs....)

-If you have questions either about the school or the general area, feel free to ask.

[veiledsentiments]

Only an organization that has a great deal to hide would try to slip a bullsh*t "confidentiality clause" into a contract. Yes, of course, there are tons of their ex-teachers around the web who have informed the world of their shortcomings... which can be legion. So, they think that they can force current teachers' silence??

But there isn't a damn thing that they can do to you if you do happen to expose all or any truths. This clause has zero power once you are out of Iraqi airspace.

This alone just enforces the fact that no one should take a job with a Sabis organization school unless they are hopelessly desperate to save a little money... "little" because their salaries are never anything to get excited about...

VS

[fadedgirl]

I'm with veiledsentiments. If you are a talented teacher with experience, don't bother with this school.

The confidentiality agreement doesn't hold water.

If you need any inside information, I'll be happy to tell any teachers to stay the HELL away from this school. I'm only here because I'm in the 2nd step of the foreign service selection. So I'm basically here to show that I can live in a country that's in the middle of civil unrest. I'm not here to teach and I know there's something better for me.

[RedLightning]

To be clear, my post employment adherence to the 'confidential clause' is not born from fear of legal repercussion, but principle-if only my own. Having spent a year at this school, I can most certainly understand the ill feelings held against it; I have grievances of my own. However, as much can be said for teachers anywhere.

We in the West are "educated" to believe we know what is best for others - you must abandon this notion. Upon entering this school, understand that their system, however faulted, has been in place for over a century-it will not change. Regardless of how talented an educator you happen(or believe yourself) to be, your major strength/weakness is ultimately your perspective, or perhaps more so your ability to adapt , save outrageous circumstance.

Simply put, if you keep your head down and your mouth shut, you'll be fine. If not, you're in for a tough year.

[scot47]

Tell us about their educational system and their educational philosophy.

[RedLightning]

[veiledsentiments]

[RedLightning]

[GOTL]

The bottom line is things are as they are in the SABIS system. As Educator, it is our personal responsibility to determine whether we decide to place ourselves in a situation which historically has shown time and time again to be dysfunctional and archaic.
The OP is correct in the fact that the system will not change. If an Educator, after doing extensive research, decides to go forward without regard of the repeated warnings than that is their personal choice and hell to live through.

[tmac-100]

[cartago]

I haven't worked for SABIS but I interviewed with them a couple times and didn't accept the offer mostly because I felt they were too rigid and other things I didn't like about the contract. Anyway I've lived in Kurdistan for nearly three years and worked in other international schools and I'll say that in terms of pay they are standard or even a little at the high end. Kurdistan is not the Gulf.

They're not just in Erbil. They have schools throughout Kurdistan. If you think those in Erbil have it tough, imagine working in one of the small towns like Kalar or Soran.

[fadedgirl]

2 of my colleagues just quit today. One local and one who was born here and moved to the UK at the age of 8.

Educational philosophy is like this:
They tell you that they have a great program and everything is designed and planned out from beginning to end.
What they mean is: drill, drill, drill, and don't give homework. It upsets the parents.
They have in mind how they want you to teach something, but they don't tell you. They wait until you do something wrong to tell you "oh yeah, we want you to teach it like this."

And they wonder why their grades are so low.

They will blame you for low test scores, classroom discipline, and lack of a decent lesson plan even though it's the first week of school and you only got your schedule yesterday.

DON'T BOTHER.
(I'm only posting this because I know they're looking for replacements.)

[EFL Educator]

SABIS is a revolving door (people coming and going all the time).....the pay is also extremely low on top of the benefits...not worth the headache!

[fadedgirl]

Local staff haven't been paid for 2 months. Be very wary.

[RedLightning]