Job Discussion Forums

[ghost]

Folks:

One knows that things were somewhat "challenging" at the ADEC-IAT program in Al Ain at the beginning of the school year (Sep. 2006), but was wondering whether any teachers there (Dr Dallas and co.) have been more successful in "weathering the storm" of late, and if things have improved at the schools where the teaching takes place?

Ghost is still considering the position, but would also like to know how tough the "medical test" is to pass for the position, because that is one of the requirements for the job?

Thanks for any info. on the current ADEC-IAT situation, and also about the severity of the medical test and what will be tested (complete lab. tests? etc..?)

ghost

[Iamherebecause]

This is the only country I've worked in where a medical is required but it happens after your employer has paid your ticket out here. Anywhere else which has required me to have a medical has wanted a report before contracts are signed.

I think all state sector employers here require the same sort of medical - they weigh you and measure you and check blood pressure, then do lab tests: blood (don't know how comprehensive), urine and faeces. Maybe there was an x-ray, can't remember. Someone took a brief medical history I think but it was VERY brief, not thorough. The only test result they are really looking for is the HIV one, if that's positive then home you go. For the rest - no-one seems to get any come-back, people with chronic health problems of one sort or another do get hired.

Don't know about the work at ADEC-IAT in terms of stress but Al Ain is a fairly healthy place to live and there are fewer stress inducing traffic jams than in the big cities

[drdallas]

Il n'est pas de changement, mon ami! C'est trop dangereux pour votre sante!

[Alecca]

How often is the medical required, out of curiousity? The first visa, or for every subsequent one?

[veiledsentiments]

Medical exams are done after arrival in Kuwait, UAE, and Oman - though the extent varies. Oman repeated the HIV test each year during my last contract there.

VS

[ghost]

[ghost]

Sorry about the semi private conversation with one of the ADEC-IAT veterans....

But, ghost, in essence needs to know whether some/most of the aberrant behaviours on display at the beginning of the year have been eradicated or not....and obviously, if ghost makes the investment of coming to UAE, it (ghost) would want to have a chance of being successful at the job...in short, it (ghost) would not be prepared to come to the UAE to babysit a bunch of recalcitrant emirati spoon fed children....immature and responsible in attitude and behavior....some people might be capable of that....not poor ghost....who has already gone through similar scenarios at an infamous Private school in Turkey (2003) at a considerable cost to the ghost psyche and mental health....but if positive steps have been taken to fix some of the problems, then ghost would have to re-consider the position..

ghost (currently sub. teaching for the French school boards, Montreal, Quebec..)

[Henry_Cowell]

Will one be able to pass the medical exams if one is not always sure who one is or why one refers to oneself in a variety of inconsistent ways?

[scot47]

One should really learn to get in touch with one's own 'persona'.

[drdallas]

"Recalcitrant emirati spoon-fed children" is only part of it - albeit a major hurdle.

Consider also class sizes of well over 20. Unstreamed.

No sighted curriculum.

Irrelevant resources.

6 English language texts in the entire school library.

A plethora of hassles with communication/support/truth/promises/information re: the employing agencies concerned.

It is all somewhat of an incubus for anyone who is mature and professional and well-travelled/experienced in other non-Western, non-Christian environments.

Enter at your own risk.

[ghost]

Ghost has been told by many ``friends`` and acquaintances in Canada that some teachers in the UAE and other places spread ``bad news`` about places to keep their jobs and diminish the competition.....and while that may be true in some cases, ghost finds it difficult to not accept what has been said about the IAT-ADEC program, and one of the reasons is that not just one teacher, but several who have worked there have complained about the place, lending more credibility to the claims.

Ghost likes to talk to Filippinos in Canada about their experiences in foreign countries, because they are well travelled working people, who usually occupy modest income posts in places like UAE, Saudi, Korea, Taiwan etc ....and the Pinoys have confirmed ghost`s worst fears by stating that they only work in places like Dubai for the money, because they find a lot of abuse at the hands of Emirati bosses......and using the Pinoys as a ``barometer`` of a place, the Emirates would appear to present quite a few problems for foreigners.....The Pinoys have advised ghost to sidestep UAE and head for more tranquil pastures like Korea.....or Taiwan (but ghost already worked in Taiwan....and wants to move on). And the situation for foreigners in the Gulf countries is only getting worse, according to the Pinoys who work there on contracts.

Back to the original thought......one is a little puzzled as to how Dr Dallas has managed such a long tenure at the ADEC-IAT program, and why he has not, qualified and capable as he is, opted to ``bail out?``

ghost

[veiledsentiments]

There is little comparison in the working situation of most Filipinos in the Gulf with Westerners. So, don't use their experiences as a barometer for your own... assuming that you are a pale-skinned Western ghost...

IAT is too new to have much of a track record and personally I think you are right in not jumping in right now.

VS

[Kosh]

The Time Has Come

The time has come for me to speak out about the ADEC program.

There are many reasons why teachers should avoid this teaching job.

Management

The management at all levels of this project is non-existent. Upper management is too concerned with its grand projects and boasts how the company is getting bigger everyday. This is not a solution too the difficulties experienced.

Middle management is concerned with what the project should be. No practical solutions to the continuing problems of mismanagement of all parties. A spin doctor turning up occasionally and making grandiose promises is not a solution. It doesn�t matter how bubbly and positive you sound. Unless you can follow through with the promises made don�t bother.

Micro management within the schools consists of bullying as a major tactic of controlling the teachers. This is more prevalent in the girl�s school. Divide and conquer is another tactic used within this school. These managers with poor people skills were not the right choice for the job. Wishy washy �Say yes to any proposal� people do not make good leaders. For clarity this does not apply to the dearly departed former leader of the boy�s school.

Teachers

Untrained and unqualified teachers are the norm. Teachers put into the schools who have never taught ESL, have never taught children and teenagers are dominant. So far two teachers have absconded, two resignations, two transfers (based on gross incompetence within the school) and multiple sackings is the current head count of teachers leaving the schools.

Students

Unmanageable, rude, disrespectful and undisciplined students are the norm in these schools. These students need busloads of teachers, teacher�s aids, counsellors working 24/7 for any difference to be made to their education. The students have an appallingly low level of ability in everything. The circus that goes on in the classrooms of these schools is something to be avoided.

Overall I would rate the ADEC project as one of the biggest jokes of education in the Middle East.

Further comments anyone?

IMHO Kosh

[globalnomad2]

I agree with Veiled...Mr/Ms. Ghost (the common Chinese appellation for white foreigner) is misguided in soliciting Filipino views of working overseas, as their experiences bear very little resemblance to those of westerners in the professional ranks. For one thing, Arab countries practice institutionalized racism that places Filipinos near the bottom of the hierarchy of foreigners, somewhere above unskilled Pakistanis and below Indian clerks. Don't get mad at me--I am merely describing reality here.

[ghost]