Job Discussion Forums

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

The Age of Universal Literacy is over. It did not last long. The more I look at things the more I see that Fukuyama's idea of "The Great Disruption" of around 1965 is all too real !

sheikher · Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 291

Those ESL teachers possessing literacy skills of dubious quality qualify for a government job in KSA.

Incompetent teachers should be transferred to other departments

By MD RASOOLDEEN | ARAB NEWS
Published: Dec 6, 2010 23:11 Updated: Dec 6, 2010 23:11

RIYADH: The Shoura Council recommended Monday that incompetent teachers be transferred to other government departments without infringing their rights and privileges as citizens.

Monday�s session was chaired by Shoura Council Chairman Abdullah Al-Asheikh.

Secretary-General Muhammad Al-Ghamdi said Monday that a set of recommendations was delivered to the Ministry of Education when its annual report was discussed at the council. The report was presented by the council�s education and scientific affairs committee.

He said members strongly recommended that there should be a mechanism to ensure scientific and professional evaluations of teachers and their performance. He pointed out that any teacher who does not comply with the expectations of the ministry should be allowed to find another suitable position according to his capabilities.

Appreciating the role played by the Ministry of Education in imparting knowledge among children, the members indicated that the curriculum, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities of the school be based on the teachings of the Holy Qur�an and the traditions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and in line with the culture of Saudi society. The house also unanimously agreed that the contract for the transport of teachers, college students and children be given to companies in the private sector.

The members urged the ministry to find appropriate solutions for people who work on a part- time basis and teachers who retire early.

While finding solutions, the house felt that the ministry needed to make child-centered decisions to help students to carry out their academic activities as envisaged.

Al-Ghamdi said that the council also recommended that the ministry consider a program to integrate special needs children into regular educational institutions according to the �education for fall� theory expounded by the UN.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child calls for making primary education compulsory, available and free to all children. It also requires that children with disabilities have access to and receive education in a manner that will help each child achieve the fullest possible social integration and individual development.

The Kingdom is a signatory to the convention. The council also recommended that the ministry liaise with institutions that offer foreign private education in the Kingdom to identify their problems and rectify them.

May I just interlope here with this hijack tidbit for Mr Scot's consideration? Fukuyama later retracted his estimation and proved conclusively that the "Great Disruption"'s inception was rooted in June 1967 with the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

You can look it up.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

He may have recanted but his original idea was sound. Bah humbug to all of you ! AND the compliments of the season !

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

While discussing literacy, that Prof. Smithers said �The fact they seem to be getting worse is especially concerning...'

Well...As far as I'm concerned, I'm not yet convinced that "concerning" should be used as an adjective...

sheikher · Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 291

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/cartoon/editorial-cartoons-december-2010/article1819732/

killthebuddha · Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 4:14 pm Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 4:34 pm Post subject:

I'm concerned concerning the direction this thread is taking.

Regards,
John

killthebuddha · Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 4:56 pm Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 5:17 pm Post subject:

Dear ktb,

I'm concerned concerning the lack of concern concerning the concerns of the concerned OP.

(Have you ever noticed that when you repeat a word - or a slight variation thereof - many times, the meaning starts to blur?)

Regards,
John

sheikher · Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 291

Is this of concern?

Having had experience and interaction for several years with UGRU and ESL instructors, I have to say that in the main, I have never met a sorrier bunch of individuals generally. While there were some, even many, outstanding exceptions, I found the majority lacking creativity, inspiration and originality. Many were there simply for the money and little else. It was clear by their demeanour, the forlorn expression on their faces and sluggish body language, reinforced by frequent snide and cynical comments, they disliked their job, their location, their students, their colleagues and even, it seemed to me, themselves. Or to be more precise, their current life situation.

Jaded, fatigued, disillusioned, bored, frustrated and having to suppress much of their real feelings and opinions, one could often spot them walking with bowed heads from classroom to classroom, brow-beaten and disheartened. Their perpetual debilitating fear of losing their jobs simply added to their over-all misery and humiliation.

The rare occasions one could see any semblance of joy and bliss on their weary, wrinkled faces was at the end of the semester when not a day (nay, an hour, a minute even), had passed when, embarking on a flight out of the UAE, they were putting as much distance as possible between themselves, their students and the deariness of their desert dungeon.

---

As an ESL instructor myself, I can honestly say that the observations made by LS are pretty accurate. I would even go as far as to say that the profession itself appears to attract the losers, the desperate, the odd, the creepy, the inept, the morally bankrupt, the weird and the emotionally maladjusted. I would also maintain that 60% of esl teachers fall into one of these categories, 20% are mediocre, while the remaining 20%, the top 20, I would place as excellent individuals in terms of being both professional and moral human beings.

http://www.uaeuniversitywatch.net/apps/forums/topics/show/3742575-esl-blues-

killthebuddha · Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 5:51 pm Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 5:59 pm Post subject:

Dear sheikher,

"Jaded, fatigued, disillusioned, bored, frustrated and having to suppress much of their real feelings and opinions, one could often spot them . . ."

Ah, how those darn misplaced modifiers can trip one up.

Regards,
John

killthebuddha · Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 6:19 pm Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 6:37 pm Post subject:

Dear ktb,

Umm, OK, I guess (he wrote ironically.) But then, there's still the problem of pronoun reference:

"Jaded, fatigued, disillusioned, bored, frustrated and having to suppress much of their real feelings and opinions, one . . .

I'm NOT giving up easily. Very Happy

Regards,
John