Job Discussion Forums

[Cleopatra]

[bollidarling]

I tend to agree with those comments Cleopatra and as most of us realise one you have had exprience in the Middle East per se jobs are much easier to get elsewhere.. I am moving on to Dubai for next semester which, after living in Saudi will be a positive step.

[Cleopatra]

[rigel]

[rigel]

[tvik]

does anyone know if they let teachers leave the country during the term breaks and "spring" break

[bollidarling]

On arrival in Saudi you need to get an Iguama which can take about a month. Once you have this you apply for a multiple exit/re-entry visa and you can leave and come in as many times as you like. Spring breaks, long weekends whenever.. no problems. However I must say Obeikan haven't exactly been proficient in dealing with the necessary paperwork for these documents in fact they have been abysmal and some teachers were not able to leave during mid semester break.

[roy_101]

Can anyone shed light on the number of hours spent at work (not just teaching) each week at KSU?

Also, is overtime paid?

With regards to accommodation, if you want to opt for Housing Allowance, do you have to certify that you have found a place and provide a contract from a landlord?

Further, has anyone on here actually managed to get away for a week or so mid semester?

Kind Regards

Roy

[bollidarling]

Hours of work are either 8am until 1.30 or 11am to 4.30 - there is a 'choice' of either shift although getting your first choice is not that common especially if you want morning shift as many of the locals do as they have children.. and locals ALWAYS get first dibs.

If you are a single female opting for a housing allowance just aint gonna happen even if you have found a suitable place. Saying that.. who knows.. they could change the rules. You have a better chance if you are male although that isn't guaranteed either.

Most teachers leave Saudi for mid-semester break and also the eid and hajd religious holidays. Don't however expect to get away at Christmas as its not acknowledged here, hence no holiday.

Overtime is NEVER paid. If you are asked to do extra shifts you get time off in lieu.. which could mean a three day weekend and an escape to Bahrain or UAE.

Hope this helps.

[roy_101]

Thanks Bolli, helps indeed.

Shame they do not pay for overtime. They operate the flexi system, but i always prefer to get paid, especially as there is bound to be loads of overtime available. Working 8 hours is standard in the West and having the 2nd 4 as overtime would be rather useful. I suppose I will have to amass a significant amount of TOIL and take extended breaks.

When you say it's not guaranteed that even males do not get housing allowance, are you speaking from experience(not sure if you are male or female, i apologise in advance).

Also, do you think the institute is ,in general, a good place to work?

My primary concerns are as follows:

Do they pay the correct amount and on time? (I know there have been problems in the past)

Do management obstruct you in the commission of your duties?

Is there any specific element that one should look out for?

Much appreciated.

Roy

[bollidarling]

As I said overtime is not paid but it isn't difficult to accumulate 5 - 6 days at certain times of the year invigilating at KET, PET and IELTS exams. Also working double shifts covering teacher absences soon accumulates if you wish.

Both single men and women have asked for a housing allowance and been turned down. It has been said that for next year more men will be offered the housing allowance as opposed to the accommodation. However 'more men' is open to interpretation. At this stage women have been told its unlikely.

In general KSU isn't a bad place to work. Administration and organisation are terrible - much worse than places like Korea, Vietnam and Thailand (all agree on that one). So if you can deal with having your class changed (level etc) at the drop of hat, having no photocopier for days on end (there is only one or two for 150 teachers), sitting around for 5 - 10 days waiting for a classroom and having NO printers at all (ie a general lack of facilities) then you will be fine.

Early on there were problems in being paid wages but this hasnt happened for the past 4 - 5 months. However there are still issues with genuine expenses (for Medicals undergone in countries of origin and housing allowances). Some of these claims go back to Nov/Dec 2008. On the other hand some staff have been paid theirs from February???

No, Management don't obstruct you in the commission of your duties. However one must remember this is a muslim country and music and film are harem (definitely not allowed) so as long as you follow the book and don't deviate you will have no problems.

The best piece of advice you could be given is to shut up and don't voice your opinion. The powers that be here don't like to be given advice, don't like to hear anything negative about the country, the religion, the syllabus or anything else for that matter. Opinions and initiative are most definitely frowned upon!

Good luck...

[rigel]

[bollidarling]

In response.. this is the situation:-

1. Telephones.. there are no landlines and everyone pays for their own mobiles and calls. If you are sick, late etc you must phone a coordinator at your own expense. You must have a mobile for them to get in touch with you. Yes, calls and sms messages are cheap granted.

2. There is one photocopier for 150 teachers which is kept in a locked room. To have anything photocopied you must have a co-ordinators signature and not more than one copy for each student per day. The phtocopying is done when there is someone available to do it. Sometimes its daily.. other times its weekly. There is no spare toner allowed to be kept on the premises. Only men are allowed to change the toner (or repair the copier) and they are not allowed on campus during the week. We have had to wait two weeks for it to be repaired and at least a week for the toner to be changed.

3. The Bell website says everyone will be given a laptop. After 5 months of waiting finally 90 laptops arrived. 40 were faulty and had to be returned and not replaces. These laptops were the cheapest on the market and there was no software on them.. you had to buy your own or download illegal copies which. All downloaded programmes must be deleted before returning them or you will be charged 2,000 SAR. There was no programme on these laptops to connect to the printers and even after being given a disc (almost a month later) many still did not work. Obviously some people brought or bought their own laptops however the small ones which are favoured for mobility reasons do not have a disc drive.

4. There are no computers whatsoever.

5. At a recent focus group meeting teachers were told they were not professional if they hadn't bought their own printers.

6. Much of the teaching is based using e-podiums. About 15% of the classrooms don't have e-podiums and many that do have them don't work and haven't worked since we started.

7. Several teachers don't have a classroom and wanter aimlessly around looking for a spare classroom. Some teachers have to teach in auditoriums with several other classes in other corners of the auditoriums.

8. The private photocopying 'shop' which has been set up on the ground floor has actually been copying some of the students assignments and selling them. We have been told by the Acting Manager 'there's nothing we can do about that'......

You do the maths!!!

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

1 + 1 = Where in the heck does the line form???

NCTBA the Repentant

[roy_101]

In short,this place is not a good place to work.

Can you highlight any positives?