Job Discussion Forums

lukum · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 8 Location: England

can anyone on here give me valuable information about teaching in this school? what I mean by valuable is honnest, positive or negative.

Thanks
Lukum xx

stoth1972 · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 1:06 am Post subject:

I can only speak about what I know from 9 years ago when it first opened. I knew many women who were newly qualified teachers. They were quite happy, but it wasn't one of the higher paying gigs for teachers. A friend of mine worked w/ them a few years ago, and there was a bit of struggle at the end of the contract when it came to funds, but it wasn't a problem that plagued all of the staff. That's a bit vague, but it's all I've got.

anniewhizz · Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Posts: 15

I remember reading info recently on TES international forum. Seemed pretty positive. they referred to it as the green school-if you do a search.

lukum · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 8 Location: England

Thank you for your replies.
Unfortunately, if you serach green school on TES, you won't find anything because the thread has been deleted...it was positive-ish in 2006 and when I asked more updated info, someone relied and it got deleted...so not so positive, it looks like! Confused

I did not apply...I think this year wasn't my year! Sad

Lukum xx

foreshorten · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 1

Hi Lukum,

You're in luck in two important ways. One, you didn't apply to Wesgreen and two, I can tell you that it is not a very good school to take a chance on.
I worked there a few years ago. It was a terrible experience.
I thought it was just me, but there were so many excellent teachers from all over the world who were so discouraged by the administration of that school. At the end of each month there were groups of wonderful teachers leaving. Of course, that meant that those who were left behind had to take up the slack. There was hardly any time away from students, including lunch. The administration was incredibly arrogant.
This is often the case when teaching in the U.A.E.
It's a truly wonderful country to live in, however, the schools can be extremely unprofessional in many, many ways. I have accepted teaching positions there on several occasions and unfortunately there were some really disturbing schools. I even had to get my embassy involved in one case. I think it's important to realize that this is a country that has only begun to develop any kind of recognition of human rights, personal dignity, etc. in as much as concerns workers rights. In that I mean, more specifically, for someone who comes from the West; U.S.A., Canada, Europe, Australia, etc. the chartered rights and freedoms we all know and love, aren't practiced, or acknowledged to the same degree as we are accustomed. It can be quite harrowing... we aren't used to being treated like slaves. We aren't used to being threatened, or dismissed without warning, etc. and that is precisely the kinds of habits employers practice there.
Please don't get me wrong...? I loved the U.A.E. but beware... there are some pretty arrogant people administering many of the schools there.

Good luck!

lukum · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 8 Location: England

Foreshorten,

Thank you for your reply. It is always helpful to get first hand information about a school. Having said that, before the thread on TES got deleted, there were a few teachers who seemed impressed enough by the professionalism of the school, and this was last year (2006), so maybe things have changed since you taught there. But maybe it hasn't...as the thread got deleted.
About the way UAE employers handle their employee, I am aware of what you are describing, I lived in Pakistan, and my husband is pakistani...and I can tell you that what is true is UAE about treating US, is also true here in the UK when treating THEM!

I think when you go and live and work in a totally different country, you must be prepared for a totally different lifestyle, and worklife. Don't get me wrong, I am not of the idea that slavery is at all acceptable, but maybe that there is a need for cultural understanding, when you move to such countries.

As I said, this year wasn't my year...I will look again next year (am trying to be positive!!!)
Thank you again very much for your help
Lukum xx

PTTeacher · Joined: 10 Feb 2008 Posts: 7

I've been on Wesgreen for some months and I'm not impressed with this school at all.

It's not "that bad", but I would give some negative points to the administration who really don't care so much about the teachers, the salary (near 7000 AED per month) and the accounts that will try to "keep" some of your money sometimes, which you have to ask and ask a lot of times until you get it.