Job Discussion Forums

Burqa Babe · Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Posts: 9

Hi all

Just wondering if anyone else got a job offer from Alghad Schools-opportunity of a lifetime, then almost got to sign on the dotted line...when I get an email saying that they had frozen my position and had frozen all new hires due to budget. Shocked

I got offered the job on 25th July and by 2nd August I was FROZEN! Anyone else have the same experience? Crying or Very sad

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

It sounds to me like that could have been good news for you if this is how it is starting out. If the program survives the year, you can always try again later and it may even be more organized... maybe.

Sorry about suddenly not having a job... that sucks...

VS

boundforsaudi · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 243

Had you already spent your own money toward visa expenses? If so, are they going to reimburse you?

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

What money would one spend up front for visa fees? How sleazy are these employers getting?

And one would be living in fantasy to expect an employer who would cancel at this point to refund any expenditures that might have occurred. Crying or Very sad

VS

boundforsaudi · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 243

Last year Wall Street Institute was trying to get me to go to Khafji, S.A. Finally, they said if I signed they'd make me director and bump up the salary. Cool. I'm in. Went down to the strip mall emergency room for a stat physical. Almost fainted when they handed me the $1300 bill. Well, no problem because my company is going to reimburse me. Then the day before I'm to depart I get a call saying the deal is off about my being director. I'd be coming in as an ordinary teacher, with possible upgrade. They claimed one, I didn't get there soon enough to suit them, and two, the Saudis wanted to interview all new teachers when they arrived before picking a director, anyway. Yeah, right. So I'm thinking they were lying all along, just to get me to sign. So I tell them I'm not coming, and they are like wanting me to reimburse them for their being penalized by the Saudis for not meeting recruiting goals. So I didn't even waste my breath asking for my $1300. Live and learn.

Does one have to get a major physical before going to the UAE?

stoth1972 · Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 3:05 am Post subject:

boundforsaudi · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 243

Yep, $1300 USD and about a gallon of blood. Stool, too. The Saudi physical is a b*tch.

stoth1972 · Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 3:39 am Post subject:

Longton · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 148

This is from today's Gulf News :

The Education Council received 68 Tunisian educators who will be teaching English Language at the 50 Madares Al Ghad (MAG) Model Schools for the 2007/2008 academic year.

So OP may have been replaced with cheaper non-native speakers of English.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Interesting that Saudi is the only place that forces these expensive physicals... though it is mainly Americans that get royally screwed because of our stupid for-profit system. And then Kuwait is the only country that forced the teachers to pay for their required tests in country, but it was still much cheaper than if I had had to have them done in the US. In Oman and the UAE, all required medical tests are free to the employee or should be - what are private school doing in this area? The private college I worked at in Oman paid for the tests.

But, back to the topic, it appears that they had sent an agent out to beat the bushes in North Africa and more were hired than anticipated. So they had to dump a few of the latest hires... just speculating, but typical situation...

VS

Iamherebecause · Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 3:08 pm Post subject:

stoth1972 · Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 4:12 pm Post subject:

zaylahis · Joined: 01 May 2007 Posts: 59

VS..I think things have changed in Oman because I and two other teachers had to do a medical with X-rays and there is no talk of being reimbursed...and we are still waiting for our visas!

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

It likely depends on the employer. I would expect that at SQU, it is still covered as their teachers get free care at the on-campus clinic connected with the hospital. My private college there was covering it until 2002 I know.

As time goes on, they try to pay for fewer and fewer 'benefits.'

VS

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

It's not that Saudi demands an expensive medical; it's that US doctors are a rip off, though it seems the guy choose particularly avaricious ones.

In the UK, at Harley Street, you now pay around $700 for a Saudi medical (mainly because of the collapse of the dollar and the increase in the price of the pound).

In Sri Lanka I paid the standard fee of $25.