Job Discussion Forums

Ann2 · Joined: 15 Jun 2007 Posts: 7

I've been offered a position at a MoHE college in Ibri. Does anyone know something about the living conditions and students there?

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

Did you try a search? It has been discussed a little in the past. Since people are heading out on leave, there may not be any current teachers online here...

VS

Ann2 · Joined: 15 Jun 2007 Posts: 7

Thanks. I'll check it out.

Zola6666 · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 34 Location: Erewhon

All the MOHE colleges are in small towns, some more remote than others.

The BEST thing about Ibri is it's a 1.5 hour drive to Al Ain in the UAE, which has modern stores, two cinemas, English reading materials, etc. Then you can drive another 1-2 hours to Abu Dhabi or Dubai to stock up on books, see the huge shopping malls, etc.

Most Omani small towns have limited food shopping. Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, but coming here is like a committment to learn how to cook.

Housing is good, spacious and inexepensive. You can even rent your own 'villa' (word for house here) for a decent price. With the MOHE, you're given a housing loan which as to be repaid (unless they've changed that) and you have to buy your own air conditioners and furniture. If you are sponsored by CfBT or Hawthorne, they may provide furnished places.

Ibri is also the hottest part of Oman. Hot and dry. No humidity. Remember to drink lots of bottled water.

When I was there, most of the classrooms were in caravans - which meant LOUD air conditioners. I don't know if that has changed. It was unpleasant.

zx20 · Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 6

Sister!

Ibri is no place for a single woman. You will not feel welcome there. I know, I was there.

You ask about students, in general theyre ok, the problems in college sure dont come from them. Go figure.

why not try nizwa? I hear its popular these days.

hack1 · Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 4

I worked in Ibri during the 2006/7 season. Ibri is a boring but highly inconsequential little town. Some of the locals can be friendly but it isn't that friendly towards single females.

I worked for CfBt vis-a-viz MOHE; on the whole CfBt paid what they should have paid, if a little late on one occasion. We got paid on or around the 25th of each month. There may be delays in future, especially if CfBT is not paid on time by the Ministry, but I was usually paid on time

The only real problem was the college. Ibri College of Education or Ibri College of Applied Sciences as it is known now. The students are bone idle, cheating is rife (nothing new there then!!) and sometimes you feel like you are being paid to babysit a bunch of morons. There is a lot of tension at the college. The teachers there are from various countries, some are part-time drunks, some are full-time alcoholics. Others are nasty and vindictive. Some are perfectly OK. It just depends who you like and who you don't like.

Chemical Ali i.e Dr Ali (MOD edit) is your head of department and if he takes a dislike to you he will dump the maximum 20 hours teaching load on you. You may also end up teaching subjects like IT and numeracy, subjects you aren't supposed to teach. I taught IT (MS Office Suite) and English. By the way, don't tell anybody what you can and can't do; if they are short of teachers you will probably be asked to teach that subject e.g. IT or Communication Studies.

Finally, if you can get used to the apathy, the cheating, the chronic boredom and the feeling of "Why am I here, there has to be somewhere better than this?" you will survive Ibri College.

All the best
Hack1 Rolling Eyes

kiranr · Joined: 12 Sep 2007 Posts: 2

Hello All,
I just joined this forum. I have to choose between King Saud University and the College of Applied Sciences Ibri very soon. It would be great if somebody could respond to these queries ASAP:

1) My wife is a TESOL person too but only I have an offer as of now. Are there any prospects for her in Ibri? From what I have gathered, if you're passing by and you blink too hard, you could miss this town! Are there schools in Ibri? Any chance of freelance work? I mean we can't imagine what she would do all day in Ibri!

2) Is there a distance education programme in Oman? I mean can she do a BEd or something from Ibri?

3) What kind of accomodation does CfBt provide? How far is it from the College of Applied Sciences? What are the things for which we have to shell out money ourselves? (I mean utilities etc.)

The offer at King Saud is substantially more but I prefer Oman and if savings are okay here, we'll take Ibri.

It would be very helpful to have general opinions from people who know the place.

Thanks very much.

007 · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 12:49 pm Post subject:

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

kiranr · Joined: 12 Sep 2007 Posts: 2

Thanks for the response.

Sorry, I meant part time courses, not distance!

Anybody here who is/was with the College of Applied Sciences? I'd like to know about the accomodation, particularly.

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

Considering that Ibri is rather far off the beaten path, it would be a very long drive to one of the private colleges in Muscat to take a part-time course. I think distance education by the internet is a better choice.

VS

gharwell1 · Joined: 21 Oct 2004 Posts: 48

Hello
If you were working at the University, wouldn't they let your spouse go for free. Or, it it an all make university?

flutterbayou · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 244

GHarwell, spouses receive medical, but not educational benefits in Oman.

I haven't taught in Saudi, but others who have tell me that they feel more comfortable here in Oman, and that their spouses had more personal freedom to get about on their own in Oman.

My thought is to ask for a semester contract to try things out. If you don't much care for Ibri within the six months' time, you could request a transfer to Nizwa or Salalah when renewals are offered for the coming academic year.

I would think that a married couple with a car would enjoy just about any area, because the country is scenic, sometimes breathtakingly beautiful.

As I see things, I'm rather busy marking papers and planning classes during the work week. Once Wednesday (edited per Duffy's correction) 4:00 p.m., arrives, I'm free to explore. Smile

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

I think our OP has been gone for awhile. He might even be in Ibri as we speak. Shocked

I only know one place in the Gulf that gives 3-6-12 month contracts - in the UAE - and that is because there are so many problems, it is the only way that they can get people to even give them a chance. It is expensive for an employer to bring people into the country and they would actually be foolish to go to all that trouble and expense for one semester... and then have to just do it again.

One academic year is nothing really. It is really only nine month - with unpacking at the beginning and packing at the end... done before you know it. Laughing

There is plenty to explore in Oman.

VS