Job Discussion Forums

[yiskbs]

Hi, I am exploring the possibility of admitting my children to a local Saudi school.
Anyone knows whether this is possible?

[scot47]

It is very unusual. There would have to be special circumstances. Normally the children of foreigners are expected to attend fee-paying private schools. These are usually called 'International Schools' and are closely controlled by the Ministry of Education.

There are many of these in Jeddah, Riyadh and Eastern Province. Also in other towns. Fees range from a few thousasnd to 40,000 riyals per child per year.

[james]

Unless your children are both Muslim and fluent speakers of Arabic, I can't imagine why you would want to put them into a Saudi school. Perhaps, you're thinking that such an experience would be culturally enriching and would broaden their minds. If this is your thinking, please wake up and smell the coffee!!!

Your children would be ridiculed, taunted, mocked, demeaned, debased, intimidated, humiliated and perhaps even physically assualted (in every way imaginable) on a routine, if not daily, basis......and this is only to mention the kind of treatment they could reasonably expect to receive from the TEACHERS.

The kinds of abuse that they would be subjected to by their classmates would be even worse.

If you love your children, as I'm sure you do, DON'T EVEN THINK OF PUTTING THEM INTO A SAUDI SCHOOL. IT WOULD TRAUMATIZE THEM FOR LIFE!!!

[yiskbs]

Thank you for your insights James. It gives me an impression that the people of KSA, in particular those in the education system, are uncivilised. I am not so sure whether you have painted a fair picture.

[nanosecond]

After speaking with Sudanese people whose children were in a Saudi school, I have to agree with James. They were abused relentlessly by Saudi children simply because they were foreigners. It did not matter that they were Arabic speaking and Muslim. There appear to be both racist and anti-foreign sentiments in Saudi society which are quickly passed on to the children. I have spoken to non-Saudi Arabs here who have however said they were happy their children went to a Saudi school rather than an international school with an American curriculum because their children would get a more Islamic upbringing.

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

Little (ex-pat) Jonny sat at breakfast table before going off to school (in which he's been enrolled for only a fortnight):

(clicking fingers) Woman, why you no lay table ! Give me breakfast !

[darkside1]

I taught two Sudanese/ American girls who had been allowed them to attend a local school for a number of years in Tabuk.

Although fluent in both spoken English and Arabic they could read nor write either effectively by age 16. Their numeracy skills were lower primary (at age 16) and they suffered from some significant cross- cultural confusion (they also had mild special needs).

They spent two years at an international school and clearly benefitted from the experience, but the issues they faced would, I am sure, have impacted on their later learning too.

[Queen of Sheba]

I have some Australian friends who have their young daughters, who are 7 and 9, in a local public school in Riyadh. They have told me their daughter are fine and are learning Arabic with pleasure. However, the parents do spend time with their daughters at home developing their English and critical thinking skills, as they feel these skills arent focused on much in the school. As far as I know they havent faced any torment or ridicule for being expats. However, this can happen in any school anywhere in the world. It maybe worth looking into the possibilities for your children, but keep in mind there will be huge differences and some short comings. Local schools have religious studies they are required to teach as well, so this may or may not influence your decision.

[mouse5]

Send your kids to a Saudi school!!!! Look at their end products! Half of them are unemployable. I wouldn't dream of letting my kids anywhere near a Saudi school. As for the local international schools. Well they'll mould your kids into expat brats. And no school in Europe or the US will recognise any of the bits of paper they get when they "graduate".
Send your kids back home. Borrow the money if you can't afford it. Just don't le them waste their time at an "institution" in this country!

[scot47]

I would say that some of the international schols are okay for younger kids. Our older daughter had a positive time at the Italian School in Jeddah and then at the 'American School' in Jeddah ( the one run by Saudi Airlines).

For older children my warning would be that these schools do NOT produce many winners !

So my kids are now at school back home.

[yiskbs]

My main concern about working in KSA is my children's education. Beside academic rigour, I am equally concerned over values transmission in the International school. My employer would be sponsoring my children's education in an international school. Leaving my kids behind is certainly not an option.
I am considering home schooling as a back up plan.
Anyway, my kids are 1,3 and 5 yrs old. I will be working in Yanbu and we are Muslims from an asian country.

[Cleopatra]

[yiskbs]

What I meant by home schooling is my kids stay at home and my wife and myself try to simulate a school env at home. Anyway, both of us are trained teahers.

[Cleopatra]

Presumably you've thought this through, but if your kids were educated by you and your wife, would this be recognised by any state board of education? I do know people who are educating their kids at home, but it's sort of a 'distance learning' affair, with the children following the curriculum of their home country. I don't know exactly how it works but I know it costs money - money which their employers are unwilling to provide.[/quote]

[Stephen Jones]