Job Discussion Forums

Sunburnt Individual · Joined: 20 May 2008 Posts: 91

I've found that even if some teachers had the motivation and work ethic to WANT to improve or change, half the time the administration found some way to turn it into "you're infringing on our culture."

The English teachers I worked with in the public school (about 2/3 Emirati) spoke excellent English and had good teaching methodologies, with a few exceptions. However, the administration actively worked to cut my and my colleagues legs out from under me. In addition to all that, after attending a few workshops, I could sadly see that I'd found an oasis of competence that was by no means the norm.

I also found that the students English was weak at best. Personally, I think hiring westerners exclusively is the wrong approach to take. There are plenty of Arabs who speak excellent English and are qualified to teach. Their Arabic is an advantage, too. The root of the problem, as stated before, is work ethic. Being western shouldn't be the first priority. Like you said, the problem is that a lot of them are worried about job security above all.[/i]

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

Job security is the be all and end all for the vast majority of non-national Arabs. There are many highly qualified people in this category who recognize that unless they meet highly unrealistic "targets" that they will lose their jobs. So, what do they have to do to keep those positions?

A realistic and objective employer (MoE and MoHE) would recognize this and comepensate for it - however, it's usually a knee jerk reaction, student fails, teaher is at fault get rid of teacher.

Are all teachers gold? NO not by a long shot. But there are a lot of good teahers who are living literally by " survival of the fittest " or at least " fitter than the guy at the next desk"

huriyyahsmum · Joined: 14 Dec 2008 Posts: 16 Location: Maryland, USA

Lorientravel: Have u received notification that you will interview in May? If so how long did it take for them to contact you. I interviewed last Friday and he told me they will let me know in 2-2.5 weeks....

BTW, thanks to all for the responses. Just a bit more info:

1. I have family (expats) that live in UAE. Going on six years now.
2. The app I filled out had ADEC on it. So, I think that's the employer.
3. I am Muslim (so the culture will not be as much of a shock to me)
4. If I don't get an allowance, I am considering purchasing a home school curriculum for my daughter (Calvert from USA). I am thinking about have a nanny to be there to supervise. Currently investigating the cost for this. There is a possibility that my sis-in-law will do this for me Very Happy

The only thing that does worry me a little is leaving something pretty secure (rock solid public school teaching contract) vs. something not so secure... But, hey we only live once, right! If it doesn't work out, I can always come back to what im doing![/list]

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

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

Being muslim does not necessarily mean you will be better able to aclimatize to the working culture (depending on your employer). If you are accustomed to the work ethic/ethos of North American employers/organizations, you will be "surprised" by what is acceptable in the Gulf in many Muslim institutions.

the only reason I bring this to the forefront is that while being a Muslim, you may not be prepared for what is acceptable in this part of the world. Much as I would not be prepared for certain parts of the southern US Bible Belt areas in terms of what is acceptable and what is not.

carlen · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 172 Location: UAE

Zoot · Joined: 15 Jun 2007 Posts: 408

I have a lot of Muslim friends here who raised in the west and the issues they struggle with are the lack of work ethic and the 'brand' of Islam here.

As far as buying a homeschooling program for your daughter goes, that's a good idea, but if your sister-in-law can't supervise it, then who will? Don't imagine you're going to get a housemaid here who'll do that for you because you won't.

As far as jobs with ADEC go, I don't think they've yet made up their minds about how many staff are actually needed and even if you do sign a contract remember it's not legally binding in any way until after you've arrived, have a Residency Permit and the Green Contract from the Ministry of Labor. Up till all of that's in place, you're at risk of losing the job you never really had, anyway.

carlen · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 172 Location: UAE

Zoot · Joined: 15 Jun 2007 Posts: 408

They're going to 'advertise' the suitably screened candidates' names in the local newspapers! I continue to wonder if the UAE really does want western teaching staff.

jgmodlin · Joined: 01 Mar 2006 Posts: 120 Location: USA

Just an FYI for fellow certified teachers considering the UAE public school deal through Teach Away and others. I just had a phone interview with a recruiter and found out that these positions are only for kindergarten up to about third grade. Depending on which version of the ads you read, it appeared that they were recruiting for all the way through secondary. The recruiter told me that the government wants to test this program on the lower grades first and possibly expand it later.
Too bad, I had gotten pretty excited at the prospect of teaching secondary but am definitely not interested in leaving a high school job here in the USA to teach kindergarten.

ap4058 · Joined: 20 Mar 2009 Posts: 84

There is lots of talk about PPP not working. My question is whats next then. ADEC are interviewing 6000 new teachers. Will ADEC look at another model apart from PPP? Why are recuiters like Teach Away looking to feel posts in UAE if there are none to feel?

Someone out there must know about the grand master plan of ADEC education reform?

Some of us have to give our notice in by mid/end May to start in Sep 2009. Time is running out.....

Sunburnt Individual · Joined: 20 May 2008 Posts: 91

from a job mailer I got last week:

"We�ve been having discussions with quite a few teachers who are part of an unmarried couple this week, so I thought it would be helpful to clarify the situation.
As you probably know by now, the easiest people to place abroad are single teachers with no dependent children (and with no pets). This is because they don�t have requirements on the school for school fee discounts, housing upgrades and the like. It�s logical really."

It doesn't seem like they're keen on anyone with a family or even teaching couples unless both teach for the company. I've also noticed that they mention accommodation is provided, but they DON'T mention if it's single or shared.

Zoot · Joined: 15 Jun 2007 Posts: 408

sunburntindividual, I got the same jobmailer from TeachAnywhere which is the major recruiter for CfBT, so beware that the company is the employer in that instance, NOT ADEC or TeachAnywhere!!

The following quote was made by the Director of TeachAnywhere, but this is a real laugh considering the way CfBT has been known to treat its employees in Abu Dhabi -

"The honest truth is that you will probably leave your post, and leave the school in a lurch."

That's exactly what CfBT has done to many, many, many of its employees in the UAE and in Oman and the reason they were NOT given another contract in Qatar! Too many in management positions not performing and too many vulnerable staff left wthout schooling for their children, accommodation, medical care, short-paid and forced to leave the country as this forum continues to proof of.

ap4058 · Joined: 20 Mar 2009 Posts: 84

As I understand it along with PPP providers, there is a company Penta International Limited which keeps them in check and balance in terms of performance. If CfBT and others are not performing they feedback to ADEC etc...

The PPP programme is coming to and end this year after the first 3 years of the piolt. What happens from here?

Are they going to refine PPP and expand it into a new PPP4 programme or refine the current model schools (currently 25 Schools) programme and expand that in Sept?

ADEC is currently taking on lots of new staff, they must have a plan in place to do something with them?

Does anyone know out there.

Desperate for some solid news.