Job Discussion Forums

[aphid]

I have been asked for interview for a post at Emirates National School. I would appreciate personal views on what this schools is like, both positive and negative, warts and all. Usual characteristics such as:

- management and leadership;
- nature of students...behaviour, local and/or international
- location....in a good/not so good area
- quality of facilities
- typical employment package they offer

Many thanks.

[Madman]

This is an old post but since it went unanswered here is my opinion:

management & leadership:
Pretty tense - there is a strong 'us and them' atmosphere. Staff meetings are not exactly warm and fuzzy - when they happen at all. Staff feel undervalued and not trusted. Management can be heavy-handed, arbitrary and there seems to be an increasing bias against non-arab staff. There is poor communication at all levels. Many teachers feel that management are spying on them. Paranoia or not, there is an 'atmosphere'.

students:
Pretty well-behaved - no worse than I have seen elsewhere. Many kids here are very nice to teach.

location:
About 45 minutes drive out in the desert although the remoteness is changing with new villas and aprtments being built around the school campus. Transport is provided. However, rumour has it that staff are to be moved to accommodation near the school and this will be a big problem as it is far from the city and taxis would be impossible to get.

facilities:
The school is a new-build about 5 years old, pretty good all round.

employment package:
2 year contract for teachers, 1 year contract for Admin staff
Free accommodation in an apartment block (all bills covered).
Singles do not share.
Transport to and from work by school bus with other teachers/staff.
Annual free flight.
End of service bonus and ticket home.
Lunch is provided.

In theory the school should be a great place to work. The reality is disappointing - staff morale is very low and many teachers are saying they will leave this year. There is a strong feeling that we are being replaced by cheaper staff. Relations with management are bad - there is little trust on either side. Job security is a pressing concern for many. The possibility of being moved to accommodation 'out in the desert' will be a major issue for many considering renewing their contracts.

[mishmumkin]

Is EMirates National School tied, in any way, to Dubai National School? The environment you've just described sound very much like DNS.

[carlen]

edit

[ardiles81]

There is also a shiny new branch of ENS in AL Ain - very useless and disappointing too. To be a new well resourced school and end up worse than the troubled Al Ain English Speaking school is quite an achievement. It has failed to retain most of its expat staff this year,because, local management is, let's be generous, somewhat useless.

Avoid.

[Ergo Sum]

I too am joining ENS soon, despite the negative publicity. Perhaps some people are more used to dealing with international school administrations than national in the ME? I know I've found the bureaucracy horrendous compared to delaing with my previous school (international) in Jeddah many years ago.

[boundforsaudi]

What's the salary?

[Ergo Sum]

45 mins drive from Abu Dhabi central, near the airport. I understand that the apartments are 10 mins from the sea/city.
I think the administrative problems will be ameliorated soon.

[carlen]

edit