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leggeymountbatten · Joined: 11 Mar 2016 Posts: 74

It seems there is more disruption at TTC where Lincoln College is the latest provider.

The English HOD has been dismissed under unusual circumstances. Apparently he made inappropriate comments of a cultural nature.

After Lincoln held an inquiry into the matter, he was summarily dismissed and given 1 week's notice to leave his compound.

This is noteworthy for 2 reasons. The HOD in question, I am advised, would be the last person to be culturally insensitive. That is not his way by all accounts.

Secondly, and just prior to this. his pending demotion was made apparent because he was given a substantial number of teaching hours to cover by the Lincoln management. HOD's aren't usually given so many hours to teach. This appears to have been an indication that Lincoln wanted rid.

The allegation of cultural insensitivity followed quickly behind.

Lincoln have had 2 failed adventures at CoE's in Saudi already. TTC looks like becoming the third. Surely, the crisis with CoE's in Saudi won't improve until providers are found who can cut the mustard.

Lord T · Joined: 07 Jul 2015 Posts: 285

The ex-HoD that you write about was not averse to getting rid of teachers for reasons that were never explained to the teachers involved.

He has no reason to feel he has been treated unfairly; quite the opposite, in fact. He has made excellent money and lived in top-quality accommodation for the last 4 years, whilst doing absolutely nothing to improve the quality of teaching at TTC.

Deep down, he knows that he 'got away with it' for 4 years. Now he can have a break, and then plan his next little adventure.

babur · Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2016 8:50 pm Post subject: HOD to walk the plank

So Captain Shut-up is due to walk the plank. One of the teachers he canned should volunteer to pick him up at the airport. Any takers?

Lord T · Joined: 07 Jul 2015 Posts: 285

sleephead · Joined: 15 Oct 2016 Posts: 2

The calamitous issues within TTC from inept and incompetent Lincoln management should in the end be resolved locally but for the sake of those like myself still teaching here please can someone rescue and save the college and avoid humiliation. TTC students discuss this on social media. We need COE and TVTC to visit the college. Embarassed

desertfox · Joined: 14 Jun 2015 Posts: 120

Sleepyhead - can you give more indication of the specific difficulties that you are experiencing at TTC?
And where the responsibility lies?

Desertfox

Balzac · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 266

bigdurian · Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2016 6:20 am Post subject:

This is a bit old, but it gives some of the background to them.
http://feweek.co.uk/2016/03/07/college-closures-and-debts-in-saudi-arabia-just-how-bad-is-it/

Amerrycan Muslim · Joined: 01 Jul 2014 Posts: 51 Location: KSA

desertfox · Joined: 14 Jun 2015 Posts: 120

I heard that the sacked HOD was responsible for a high number of dismissals of English teaching staff over the period he was in charge. Is this true?

If it is true, then it is difficult to have much sympathy for him.

sleephead · Joined: 15 Oct 2016 Posts: 2

Since our return 18 teachers have been dismissed and many of my colleagues who worked alongside me in my department didn’t sign onto to Lincoln’s misleading contract. This has led to all of us teaching up to 40 students in one class. This has led to a college with insufficient teachers and thus students teaching students. The management allowed an unofficial mid trimester break for all teachers, of which many took advantage so students who attended class were marked present by myself and those who stayed and were then sent home as we had our own classes to teach. As we all know education should not sacrifice academic standards. We need whoever chose Lincoln to come and inspect their catastrophic approach.

desertfox · Joined: 14 Jun 2015 Posts: 120

Sleephead - from what you report it sounds as if Lincoln Colleges were encouraging teachers to keep false records of those students attending classes.

If that is the case, then this is a very serious matter as my understanding is that Lincoln are paid according to the numbers who attend on a daily basis.

It would be nothing short of fraud or obtaining money by deception.

The matter should clearly be investigated further and the Labour Ministry and/or the TVTC should be advised accordingly.

Just for information, was the then HOD of the English Department aware and complicit in these practices???

Balzac · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 266

Desert Dueller · Joined: 20 Jul 2015 Posts: 45 Location: Montreal

[Anyone know the answers or have any updates on what's going on at the TTC in Riyadh under Lincoln Colleges International's management?

And I wonder too where the ex English Department HoD is these days? Any news? Has he popped up anywhere?]

Rumour has it that there's more "housekeeping" in the pipeline, especially trimming ELT staff numbers in general as well as getting rid of some of the more expensive old-timers. Sad, but that's the way the industry is heading in KSA.

As to the sacked HoD, no doubt he will surface after lying low for a while in a futile attempt to let the dust settle. These types will always resurface in a new role somewhere in the vast TEFL world, but - alas - the past will usually come back to haunt them and flush them out pretty much before the ink has dried on their new contract.

Lord T · Joined: 07 Jul 2015 Posts: 285

Rumour has it that there's more "housekeeping" in the pipeline, especially trimming ELT staff numbers in general as well as getting rid of some of the more expensive old-timers.

No, that's not the case. They have already cut their teaching staff to the bare minimum unfortunately, so the 2 pieces of over-paid dead wood will remain for the winter period at least.

After 'releasing' scores of good people in recent times, it has now become a place where it's almost impossible to get fired.