Job Discussion Forums

[Art1]

Hi all,

Are there opportunities for expats to teach science in KSA?

I've a science degree and masters.

Are there differences in salary between English and science contracts?

Many thanks.

[nomad soul]

The majority of posters on this forum teach EFL to post-secondary students. So you may not get much in the way of detailed responses. Also, PhD holders from throughout the Arab world generally teach science at the tertiary level. One exception is Alfaisal University's UPP, which includes science as a subject area.

The qualifications you listed are rather vague, but for k-12, check out Aramco for American and IB-curriculum teaching opportunities. (That includes Aramco's College Preparatory Program.) You'll need to be qualified/licensed to teach science as well as have X number of years of experience teaching the subject. These types of requirements are fairly common for the rest of the Gulf as well. In addition to Aramco, see Seek Teachers, Teach Away, and Footprints for science teaching jobs in the region. Otherwise, do an Internet search on teach science saudi jobs.

[mnruman]

I know someone, who is actually teaching science at primary school level in KSA. He did say the salary isn't much different to an ESL instructor.

Hope this little piece of info helps.

[nomad soul]

[mnruman]

[scot47]

There are many international schools offering instruction through the medium of English. Are you a trained teacher ?

[Art1]

Yes, I am a trained teacher.

[scot47]

You could try a google
Look at places like
Jeddah Prep
The Continental School

[Gulezar]

[nichtta]

Yes, I have a friend, who is a certified teacher and working in an Abu Dhabi public elementary for at least two years now. They're very, very happy with the hours (7:30 AM - 2:00 PM, Sunday through Thursday), salary (enough to save up plenty every month; I think around $3500-$4000 tax-free pay a month), living accommodation (comfortable and nice), flights for my friend and their spouse, and breaks (enough to travel to other countries as well as go back home during the summer).

What they used was Footprints Recruiting, but they also told me that a lot of teachers in their school used Teach Away Recruiting. Footprints' application is much easier and faster to fill out from what I remember. The last I checked, about a week or two ago, my friend said schools in the area were still looking for teachers.

The thing is, what I found out was that public schools there can only hire through what's called the Abu Dhabi Education Council, I think, which partners with these recruiting companies. I'm not sure if they take from one's salary, but I did see on the council's website before that one can apply to them directly. Therefore, there's no direct hiring from the school itself.

Anyways, it definitely seems worth sending in your application since you are a certified teacher, even this late in the year, and seeing if you can get any offers. If not, keep an eye out for Footprints' interviews throughout this upcoming year as they tour specific "western" cities on specific dates for in-person interviews.

[nomad soul]

[bigdurian]

I used to work in an international school. There are many opportunities for Science teachers. If you have QTS you will be fine. Pay rates would go from 12,000 SAR a month to 25,000 SAR a month depending on the school. The 25k would be the British school in Riyadh staying in Al Hamra Compound and the 12k would be at a Saudi international. There are many variables in between.

There are many qualified Pakistanis etc, but the bottom line is that the parents want Westerners, and they're prepared to pay for them, to a point.

So many variables.

The thing you have to remember is that, the Science teacher can go to work in the same place as the ESL teacher, but the ESL teacher normally can't go to work in a real international school, which is where the big money is, comparable with the top ESL jobs in Saudi.

An MA TESOL isn't the same as being a qualified teacher in your home country.