Job Discussion Forums

[mateacher]

[D. Merit]

[veiledsentiments]

[D. Merit]

[veiledsentiments]

IMHO, the excessive salary expense problem isn't at the teacher level, but at the management level. Historically they had waaaay too many levels of management with waaaay too many people who did nothing but drive around the Emirates having meetings which produced absolutely nothing of value to the system or the students. Anything that did come out was guaranteed to make the teachers' jobs more cumbersome and onerous, while again... doing nothing to improve anything. Their salaries were (and are) significantly higher than the teachers.

While they have axed lots of Western management at many levels, they are being replaced with Emiratis. And, we know that will raise salary/benefit costs, not cut them... and even less will be produced. All it will save them is the housing costs.

Gratuities are gratuities... and the fact that some teachers stayed for many many years and walked away with significant amounts is as it should have been... based on the contract. If they wish to control levels, they should restrict the number of contracts allowed, or the fairest system IMHO that it be paid annually. That would allow them to budget it properly. (which is where the problem actually is... you just know that they never budgeted for those gratuity costs)

As I recall, the salary rises of a few years back were to get it equal to the other employers like UAEU and ZU... and/or to help their employment issues by sweetening the pot.

But all that is water under the bridge and we will just have to wait and see what the changes will be. The housing change alone immediately cuts the desirability of HCT jobs.

VS

[D. Merit]

Nothing to argue with there, vs.
I'm just commenting on how I think the person charged with cutting the deficit will see things.

[Chuma]

[veiledsentiments]

It has been reported that they will no longer have an inventory of unfurnished flats that the teachers live in... they will give you a housing allowance and you will be on your own to go out and find a place. I am assuming that they will still provide the allowance for furniture and settling in costs.

It isn't clear yet if teachers will lose their current flats or if they are "grandfathered" in and thus it will mainly affect new teachers and those who wish to move from their current place. I'm sure that D Merit will come on and tell us if there has been any confirmation of anything yet.

Pros and cons to both... I have done it both ways and it is certainly easier for newbies to this part of the world if the employer delivers you to a flat when you arrive.

VS

[Solar Strength]

[veiledsentiments]

As to the 25 contact hours a week situation. I have heard from a few friends around the UAE... and... according to them, there are quite a few teachers doing 25 hours, but being paid overtime (I think for over 20). At their colleges, those teaching 25 have been told that they will have 20 or less for the second semester. It is all about student numbers, of course. (and likely short of teachers too)

Being the suspicious sort myself... back in my day it was one semester with 15 and one with 20... and after 2-3 years, 20 was the standard. Thus HCT is likely testing to see if they can eventually get everyone up to 25. Whether they can get away with it when ZU and UAEU don't is another issue.

As to class sizes, they said that while they started the semester with lots of packed classes, the usual attrition of those that can't handle the English requirements has them back down to normal sizes. And there are usually quite a few that fail out after final exams at the end of the semester.

I also asked how they like their new management, one felt that it was a major improvement, the others felt that it was more a matter of 'meet the new boss, same as the old boss.' Only one is itching for a change of employer.

One change that one reported to me is that while in the past, you were considered an employee of whatever branch you were hired by, now everyone is merely an HCT employee. Of course, that has always been true in the end, but I think they have taken away individual college management considering teachers to be "their" teachers and the system wants to be able to move teachers around to wherever they are needed. In the past, it was by volunteer or teacher request that teachers moved to another branch. So it will be interesting to see if they start trying to force someone in Dubai to go to Fujairah... or whatever. Expense should hopefully keep that to a minimum.

As usual... the rumor mill of HCT is working overtime as to what will be the new "normal." But we will just have to wait and see...

VS

[shonrand]