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RobertinOman
Joined: 31 Jul 2010
Posts: 60
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 Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 10:54 pm Post subject: |
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I always had positive fibes from the Australian chap.
He had the "bad boy" qualities that females of the species find irresistable but he did not have the reputation of a man who cheats on his wife. This probably angered some of the ladies.
I cannnot image how the slur of "racism" got raised in this discussion.
I hope the South African woman whose name begins with N was not purged - a woman of impeccable character. |
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Mr Gavoni
Joined: 10 Sep 2011
Posts: 22
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 7:29 am Post subject: |
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I just received an email from a friend of mine at the University, which was apparently sent to all the staff. I'll copy it here, with some necessary amendments, for informative purposes only - in my opinion, it is a heavy letter, at times repetitive and somewhat boastful too.
The Email Encourager seems to have climbed up the social ladder - now he's the main character.
| Quote: |
Unfortunately due to the circumstances outlined below I must call upon the higher powers of the Sultanate to adequately resolve a problem now in dispute and my wish is to be protected from illegal attempts at eviction or personal threats to my physical safety from Nizwa University personnel until 1) this matter is successfully resolved, 2) I have been fully compensated, and 3) I have been provided with a return ticket. This is true of me and would be true of any teacher in my situation.
Let me state at the outset that comments made here are not directed towards a race, a religion or an ethnicity but have to do with common corruption in developing Nations amongst low level small town academic officials. My purpose is in the interest of the Sultanate and the teachers at Nizwa and my hope is that by hearing and addressing these concerns with respect they will be of merit to the Nation I and my colleagues were invited to serve.
The issue at hand has to do with an illegal and wrongful dismissal from Nizwa University, unfortunately a corrupt institution of higher learning that is endangering the Sultanate�s reputation here and abroad and if unaddressed threatens to create escalating conflicts which jeopardize that Nations reputation, good will and security. So that this need not be brought before the Court and National and International Media as well as powerful political bodies, I will present my case here in the hope that the Ministry of Education�s wise intervention and action will prevent a serious and ongoing problem. Having lived and taught in many Nations and having been a consultant for the Prefecture of Kanagawa in the Nation of Japan, it is with a clear understanding that all developing Nations confront the problems of corruption (which undermine for personal gain the noble ambitions of proud institutions) that I respectfully bring this matter before the higher powers, in the hopes that this will be quickly, efficiently and ethically resolved and that no further damage will be done.
The issue at hand is illegal and wrongful dismissal from employment. Without following any of procedures or guidelines clearly detailed in Nizwa Universities procedural manual, without observation, consultation, discussion, negotiation or compromise, Nizwa University illegally delivered a single letter of termination of employment. The management based its decision on a single complaint from a single female student about 19 years old, that poetry was used (namely Kahil Gibrane) to teach vocabulary and grammar skills. Based on this complaint and hoping to secure continued payment from the student Mr. [the Email Encourager - hereinafter, EE] of Nizwa University issued a warning. Without one administrator or observer having entered my class Mr. EE made the following slanderous and libelous comments. Exhibit 1. I was then transferred to a computer lab and then without warning, consultation, negotiation and without receiving one email or phone called Mr EE made the decision to terminate my employment. On December 3rd. 2011, [...] Mr. EE had his secretary send a single email. I was told to go to HR, at HR I was given a single letter of termination. Please refer to [attachments]. None of these procedural guidelines were followed, constituting illegal practices by the University management and I feel it is beneath me and a waste of my time to make any further arguments. Again please refer to exhibits a, b, c, and d where illegal breach of policy is clearly delineated. To verify this please ask Mr. EE if any observation of the teacher's class was made and if any of the procedural guidelines were followed.
Instead of refuting minute points on this issue I feel it would be more beneficial for the Ministry of Higher Education and the Academic Authority to hear my professional assessment of Management at Nizwa University. These are charges which if not addressed now will be brought before a court of law, before international media organizations, and before powerful political bodies that are not interested in reasonable resolution, do not have the interest of Sultanate heart and may actively attempt to create and use conflict in order to further own political agendas.
First and foremost: management, and namely Mr. EE display a complete disregard and contempt for University policies and procedures. As a manager he appears incapable of handling conflicts with reason, maturity and responsibility, is unable to communicate with skilled foreign workers and unable to find compromises and solutions leading to repeated and ongoing conflicts and complaints which jeopardize the reputation of the Institution and the Nation as a whole and its peace amongst other Academic institutions and Nations in the world.
� Note when proud, skilled and reputable international academics are treated with disrespect, contempt and disdain they take these conflicts back to their home countries and continue the work of exposing and denouncing the corruption, arrogance, insensitivity and ineptitude of Nizwa University and its officials amongst foreign institutions, elite social circles and powerful political bodies. Nizwa has one English teacher who is currently suing the University for wrongful termination and age discrimination. If they depart without resolution and return to their home countries such as England their goals may become political and for the duration of their lives they could work with malice, spite and dedicated vengeance towards to the destruction and discrediting of the institutions, individuals and Nations that have wronged them and damaged both their lives and reputations. The inability to deal with and resolve conflicts with tactful diplomacy and reason is the first sign of incompetent and immature management and can lead to the destruction of an Institution or worse. Engaging in legal �warfare� with highly intelligent �Western� academics may be exciting to an immature and corrupt manager but is strongly advised against. At present there are at least two former employees that I know of with serious unresolved conflicts with the University who are actively denouncing the institution and in association the Nation amongst media, powerful political bodies and other academic institutions.
� An Inability and an unwillingness through pure complacency to manage coordinate and direct building and maintenance staff to ensure the safety, integrity and proper and legal functioning of international institution serving the youth of a Nation and entrusted by families for the safety and education of their youth.
� Illegal visa and payment procedures which violate both University policy and National laws and thus constitute the following criminal offences. The exploitation and use of unregistered foreign employees with illegal visas. Criminal offences also include "economic harassment", financial intimidation, blackmail, discriminatory labor practices and conspiracy for the purpose of private financial gain. These claims may be verified by questioning [J] and [C] directly.
Academic Professionalism at the Foundation Institute
� There are no official text books for students.
� There is no orientation, training, or supervision of teachers.
� There is no syllabus or curriculum and teachers are placed in classes with five hour durations with absolutely no direction. The only teaching material provided are a handful of photocopied text book chapters which are used by only a �handful of teachers�. Teachers are then left to come up with, purchase and provide their own teaching materials.
� Students are free to attend or skip classes as they please. There is a company policy on record but like other policies but it is completely ignored and disregarded.
� Management�s sole concern appears to be taking students and their family�s money for private gain while completely ignoring the rights of teachers. If a complaint, accusation or charge against a foreign teacher is made management will immediately side with the student regardless of how absurd, false or simply immature the charge or accusation is. This creates an environment in which teachers can be disrespected at any time, they have no educational authority and refrain from disciplining or censuring a student for absenteeism, bad behavior, class attendance or failing performance in fear that there will be reprisals from the students and the management being thoroughly corrupt, hoping only to secure the students further payment will completely ignore a teachers concerns and/or legal rights which may jeopardize their livelihoods. Being without moral courage, a sense of responsibility or moral purpose and concerned primarily with their continued private financial gain management continues to disrespect and disregard the rights of all of its foreign teachers.
� Complete disregard for fire, flood and hygiene rules and procedures which continues to endanger the lives of faculty, students and teachers. Having worked with the Kanagawa Prefectural Government I was taught that first and foremost management is responsible for the safety of the students that parents have entrusted unto them. Certain areas of the campus are littered with trash, protruding sharp objects such as nails, broken glass and steel. Fiber glass insulation which is a health hazard can be seen hanging from outside rafters and it is possible that all ceiling materials are made of asbestos which is a cancer causing agent and has been legally banned internationally. Teachers have been placed in unfinished buildings violating international safety codes.
� While I was at Nizwa there was a heavy rainstorm. Because construction has been done in with flimsy, unsafe and cheap materials there was a huge amount of leakage from classroom ceilings into classrooms with electronic equipment all of which put the students at the risk of electrical shock and electrical fires. While water poured through classroom ceilings and flooded the unsafe walkways with up to 3 feet of water, management refused to shut down the institution endangering the lives of students and faculty. After the flooding, management did nothing to repair leaking classroom ceilings, and unsafe walkways which are still a hazard and a safety violation.
� In tech labs 7 and 8 it was ordered that 64 computers be left on non-stop for five days a week throughout the year in shabby and cheaply constructed classrooms with leaking ceilings and broken air conditioners. Leaving the 64 computers running overnight in unattended and poorly constructed buildings is a gross fire hazard. I advised management to have all electronic equipment shut down when no one was there to attend them. This official advice was completely ignored and the cheaply constructed labs continue to be a serious fire hazard in violation of all basic fire codes.
� In tech Labs 7 and 8 I witnessed the theft of numerous computers from the IT storage room. Management being corrupt with absolutely no oversight made the IT department feel that it could steal the equipment without fear of reprisal or notice. Given the atmosphere of corruption teachers and other staff also feel free to steal from the University and make it a habit to do regularly. Because the management is corrupt they feel contempt for the institution myself included. They understand that they are being used by a corrupt management whose sole purpose is to use them for economic profit and does as little as is humanly possible in terms of oversight and direction and therefore use this as a justification to steal what they can of the Universities resources.
Like immature children, management appears incapable of hearing and recognizing any statement of concern that could be in the least bit critical. Like children their reactions are defensive and concerns go completely unrecognized and unheard. Rather than maturely listening to and addressing concerns that might endanger the safety of students and staff,or improve the University environment the only thing they seem capable of seeing or recognizing is their own wounded and immature egos.
This creates a seriously dangerous environment in which concerns are ignored and neglected and only addressed when an accident finally occurs which endangers a student or faculties life and forces them to face the issues at hand.
� Inability and unwillingness to enforce the cultural and religious laws of a Nation. At Nizwa female teachers routinely disregard cultural traditions and enter the male dining hall to eat. This is perceived as a great insult by the male Muslim students.
� It should be recognized that some female teachers have very serious and important concerns regarding women's rights in Oman and this concern should be acknowledge by management by allowing them a full forum to truly express their views. Their acts of protest are brave and even admirable but it could lead to serious conflicts and management has done nothing to address it and nothing to honestly hear the concerns that these teachers deserve to have heard.
Many students also perceived this as a gross double standard. Why are they expected to obey the rules of a University when teachers were free not to. We�re all the rules of a school, a society and ancient religious traditions to be broken with no repercussions? Did the female teachers think it was appropriate for boys to enter the female side of the Mosque in swimming trunks? Without any attempt to try and understand the moral and religious reasons behind such traditions the traditions themselves are treated with contempt, and without any attempt to honestly the concerns that female are voicing through actions their actions are regarded with contempt as well. In response management did absolutely nothing to hear the female Teachers and even encouraged this contempt for Muslim traditions by sitting down to eat with them in the male student dining hall.
� In conclusion
What you have is a corrupt, immature management team whose sole ambition seems to be collecting money from students and their families for private gain. While they claim to be a �supposed non-profit� they are hardly ever to be found in their offices and can be seen driving expensive Cadillac�s, Mercedes and SUVs out of the University on or far before official closure. Utilization of the label �non-profit seems to be a front for graft, and widespread corruption and should be seriously investigated.
� Management displays complete contempt for following any of its own procedures or laws. It is actively using undocumented labor without legal visas who have had no background or reference checks, thus constituting a criminal violation of National Laws.
� It has neglected to provide any orientation, training, direction, or official text books and curriculums to its teachers.
� It refuses to recognize and honor a teacher�s authority in the classroom, denies their civil rights and automatically sides with any student in any conflict regardless of the absurdity of a student�s claim, whether an accusation is racially motivated, or motivated through simple immaturity.
� It has no classroom conflict procedures that would protect foreign teachers from false accusations or an endangerment to their physical safety.
� Buses have been and continue to be late in picking up teachers thus preventing classes from being taught. Management seems incapable or simply unwilling to manage such basic services as picking up and dropping off students and faculty. Buses full of faculty have been driven on highways even �after the breaks have failed� and there are no safety procedures regarding the maintenance of vehicles, breaks and the transportation of students and faculty.
For the good of the Sultanate and the student body and faculty at Nizwa University it is my strong recommendation that the institution be immediately closed for vacation until such time that it is deemed safe and has fulfilled all official fire, flood and hygiene safety codes for students and faculty and that its corrupt management staff be immediately terminated. For the good of the students and their parents who have entrusted this institution with their children�s lives, the institution should remain closed until such time as it is brought up to full international safety standards and there is a thorough investigation into the Universities actions and activities. It is also recommended that any Government aid to the institution should be immediately halted until a thorough investigation has been completed, as the Sultanate could be perceived as being �in conspiracy� with a corrupt institution endangering the lives of students and faculty and of creating escalating and mounting international conflicts with the potential to do serious and irreparable harm to the Sultanate and the good will it now enjoys amongst the international academic community. I strongly recommend that the ministry �protect itself� by taking immediate action. Now is not the time to protect low level corrupt officials doing serious damage to the Nation�s reputation. Now is the time for the Ministry to protect itself by taking strong and decisive action.
As an institution of higher learning in which parents entrust their children�s lives to the officials and faculty and as an international institution using skilled labor from abroad, it is paramount that in this arena, no corruption or mismanagement be tolerated.
This advice is rendered with the best interest of the Sultanate and the foreign professional it contracts at heart and with the hope that immediate action will safeguard the reputation, religious heritage, and the current political good will of the country.
In regards to my illegal termination it is strongly advised that this matter be settled immediately and without recourse to international lawyers, political media, human rights organizations, television stations and politicians with personal political agendas. My recommendation is that I be paid the full amount specified in my one year contract, and compensatory compensation in the amount of 200,000 riyals, for illegal termination and damages and that all resulting damages be paid by the University or through funds designated for the University, asap. This will send a clear and strong message to the University that such corruption and irresponsible ineptitude is not to be tolerated and has very real consequences and that the Ministry will not tolerate the corruption and inept management practices that are threatening the Nation as a whole with continuing international conflicts.
Having been compensated and having resolved this issue peacefully with the responsible authorities in the Higher Education Commission I will depart in good faith, keeping the positive memories of my time here at heart and understanding with transcendence that all developing Nations must confront the problem of low level corruption which undermines the integrity and peace of a Nation. Resolving this problem quickly is in everyone�s best interest, and the longer this problem persist the greater the damages will be for all. Understanding as well that it is the role of the higher powers within a Nation to discipline and reform dangerous and corrupt elements within the society I will depart hoping this report has served the Nation and with a continued faith and �trust� in the integrity of the Muslim people and in Oman.
With sincerity, goodwill, trust and in good faith I humbly and respectfully submit this report before the Ministry of Education and await your reply.
Sincerely, [supply name]
Note: At the risk of my own safety I have provided this report to the Ministry and ask that it be kept private for fear of physical reprisals from corrupt University personnel and that I be protected from illegal eviction from my University apartment and or physical threats to my safety until such time as I am granted full compensation and safe transport back to my country of departure.
To verify the veracity of my remarks I have supplied my resume, references and certificates of achievement. All of my references can be personally checked at any time.
To verify that statements made are correct, I recommend a full investigation into practices at the University and asking the following questions.
1. Were any official University procedures followed when terminating Mr. [supply name] employment?
2. Was there ever an in class observation of Mr. [supply name] class. Was there ever a follow up observation of Mr. [supply name] class. Was there ever a consultation after the observation.
3. Was there ever any attempt to resolve issues with Mr. [supply name] in an honest reasonable and diplomatic way.
3. For Mr EE: how can you make the remarks you have made about Mr. [supply name] class when you never once observed him teaching as is stated in mandatory University policy?
4. Was Mr. [supply name] given any training or advice that might have resolved the issue. Was Mr. [supply name] ever spoken with by you in any meeting besides the single and only meeting he had with you, Mr. P and Mr. C?
5. Do Foundation students have a standard text book used by all teachers? Can you provide proof of a standard text book and a curriculum and syllabus that is used by all of the teachers? Note: tell him that the teachers will also be asked if they have been supplied text books, curricula and syllabi.
6. Do you have and/or utilize any classroom conflict policies that would safe guard teachers from false accusations made by students? Can you show me this policy in documented form?
7. Do you have any policy statement concerning fire, flood and hygiene safety?
8. After the school was flooded was there any effort to repair buildings with leaking and dangerous ceilings?
9. At the next large rainfall do you expect the exact same leakage through roves and ceilings into classrooms and why hasn�t anything been done to address this problem?
10. Do you have any safety procedures for the transportation of students and faculty including the routine checking of breaks?
11. Why is it that [...] your level 3 coordinator has claimed that Mr. EE is a completely ineffectual manager who �hears concerns and then does absolutely nothing to address them.�
12. Why has S stated that �Nizwa is the worst administered school he has ever taught at in his entire academic career�?
13. Is it true that certain management are paid ahead of teachers and some teachers must confront HR on a repeated basis before ever being paid constituting economic harassment.
14. Ask [...] level 2 coordinator if Mr. [supply name] was not economically harassed by putting both him through a 7 hour ordeal of false promises, needless documents, and false appointments until [C] was finally able to secure payment for Mr. [supply name]
15. Ask if there are other teachers who are been put through the same economic harassment?
16. Ask if there is any orientation policy at all for foreign teachers arriving at Nizwa?
17. Ask after two and half months more than half of the teachers still do not have legal visas or labor cards and thus are illegal workers in Oman.
18. Ask Mr. EE if he even knows what a fire code or safety code violation is?
19. Ask him how much he is paid on monthly basis and to supply bank account information.
20. Ask if female teachers continue to violate Muslim traditions and to eat in the male dining hall without a true forum to discuss and air their concerns.
21. Ask why EE or someone else is unable to tell female teachers to respect the rules of Muslim traditions and provide them a forum while illegally terminating employment for teachers such as Mr. [supply name] who actively studied the Arabic language, and the Muslim Faith.
22. Ask why they are being sued by a teacher from England who is actively denouncing the institution and may be attempting stir up English political sentiment against the State of Oman?
23. Finally ask them to present documented proof of payment for all teachers and management and to tell the Authorities exactly what their legal and contracted responsibilities are.
24. Ask them for financial documentation that lists the salaries of all �non-profit� management, to prove that their payroll is not padded with false accounts as has been witnessed, and to account for all monies and all management bank accounts, credit cards and personal expenses, Govt scholarship funds, and any money given to the institution by the Higher Education authorities including from foreign institutions abroad.
25. And finally ask Mr. EE, when he blatantly and repeatedly disregards official policy, endangers the lives and well being of the student body through continuous neglect of responsible safety management, ask him how he can expect to run an international foundation representing the Sultanate without the slightest clue on how to respect the human rights and to reason, negotiate and compromise with foreign academics thus creating repeated claims against the institution and the Nation and endangering its political peace and ties with institutions abroad, while bringing unnecessary and continuous problems to the Ministry of Higher Education through blatant corruption, ineptitude and cowardice? Why should he as a corrupt and inept manager have any role whatsoever in an institution representing the honor of the Monarchy and the Nation of Oman. After asking these questions to Mr. EE, listen to his attempt to shift blame onto to everyone else but himself. It is strongly advised that Ministry hand Mr. EE a single type written note on Ministry letter head stating his employment at Nizwa University is hereby officially terminated and is effective immediately.
The continuing of a debate with lying and corrupt University management is and will be fruitless and may be dangerous. Now is not the time to be soft but with serious and firm intent to �take action� and root out this corruption now which if left unaddressed and not removed is a cancer that will eventually destroy a country and let be known that voice of Nizwa teachers has been delivered and if further illegal actions against teachers is taken their will be more serious repercussions. I suggest that all teachers have on hand the contact of their embassy officials if further political dialogue is needed. Speaking will clarity I will say that the time to stop disrespecting your foreign academic employees is now and any illegal actions against them will be answered.
Inshalla �. Mr. [supply name]
University Instructor: Former consultant to the Kanagawa Prefectural Government in Japan
Contributing writer for The Los Angeles Times, The Japan Times, and WrittenBy Magazine, The Magazine of The Writers Guild of The United States of America
Owner and founder of [supply name] an online publication with 4750 members in over 25 Nations including .. China Foreign Affairs University and Thamasatt University in Thailand. Freedom Road is 7000 pages of ethical information that matters and economic resources that empower.
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isabel
Joined: 07 Mar 2003
Posts: 510
Location: God's green earth
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 2:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Some people are best advised to move on. BTW, calling students "towel heads" is racist. Forgetting that you have done so is ignorant. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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When I read rants like this one, it always seems clear why the person was let go... not that I read the whole thing as I was asleep before the end. I agree with Isabel... the best advice in situations like this is just to move on.
This place has hired way too many people who think a situation will be improved per their definition of the term if they send a semi-slanderous, multi-page email to everyone they know or have known.
VS |
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Mr Gavoni
Joined: 10 Sep 2011
Posts: 22
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 4:11 pm Post subject: |
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| isabel wrote: |
| Some people are best advised to move on. BTW, calling students "towel heads" is racist. Forgetting that you have done so is ignorant. |
Seems like you want to start filling my thread again with jabs at a person who's not even reading you, Isabel. Are you going to delete them in a couple of days? |
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It's Scary!
Joined: 17 Apr 2011
Posts: 823
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 4:49 pm Post subject: |
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He sounds unhappy to me.
It's a complaint of international proportions and the UN Secretary General has been notified of this human tragedy! |
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RobertinOman
Joined: 31 Jul 2010
Posts: 60
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 11:41 pm Post subject: |
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I searched this page and the only mention of "towel heads"was made by "Isabel" 
Is she asserting that she personnally heard the remark made by the writer of the email or did one of her ever so reliable friends whisper this gossip in her ear?
It is amazing that UNizwa no longer provides textbook. They used to have a bookroom stuffed with stuff. I guess you cannot expect perfection. Broken electrical wiring has a long tradition on that campus. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:26 am Post subject: |
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They accepted a massive number of new students during the first semester. They were sent by the Ministry with little or no warning, thus there was no way to have ordered enough textbooks in preparation. Not that it lets them off the hook for accepting way more students than they could handle.
No question that the place is a mess this semester...
VS |
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Turbster
Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 67
Location: UK
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| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:45 am Post subject: |
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I await the presentation, on this thread, by Mr Gavoni, of the subsequent emails of apology from the writer of the extensive email, to all persons named in that aforementioned extensive email.
I guess he derives some small satisfaction in reproducing an email in the public domain, that was not addressed to him, seeking to embarrass a former employer, and former colleagues. I wonder, will he have the sense of fair play and equanimity to do the same in respect of the written apology. Let us see.
In much the same way that the emailer has been advised to 'move on', I feel it is well past the time for the embittered Mr Gavoni to do the same. He does neither himself, or his friend at the UoN, any favours. |
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hellionzap
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 61
Location: Nizwa
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| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:47 am Post subject: |
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| Very well said Turbster. |
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Mr Gavoni
Joined: 10 Sep 2011
Posts: 22
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| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 6:07 am Post subject: |
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| Turbster wrote: |
I await the presentation, on this thread, by Mr Gavoni, of the subsequent emails of apology from the writer of the extensive email, to all persons named in that aforementioned extensive email.
I guess he derives some small satisfaction in reproducing an email in the public domain, that was not addressed to him, seeking to embarrass a former employer, and former colleagues. I wonder, will he have the sense of fair play and equanimity to do the same in respect of the written apology. Let us see.
In much the same way that the emailer has been advised to 'move on', I feel it is well past the time for the embittered Mr Gavoni to do the same. He does neither himself, or his friend at the UoN, any favours. |
When I was looking for a job, I always found this forum very useful. My principle is very simple: if I am looking to work for some place X and there is little or nothing written about X (just like Unizwa when I was about to be hired), that means the place is OK. People tend to complain much more than to express their satisfaction. Conversely, if I see many warnings in the form of accusatory threads, they won't be my gospel, but I will investigate a bit more.
I received this email from a friend of mine at the University two days ago. I haven't yet seen any subsequent emails, nor have I heard about any apologies. If you have, just post them for everybody's information.
Should I then apologize to the people named in the email I posted? I have taken care to delete all the names, so I shall apologize to no one. I have a good job somewhere else and I am simply sorry to see that what used to be a nice place has turned into a source of bitterness for many - some of whom are actually close friends of mine.
I also think that future teachers should know what they're in for, if they elect to start working for the University. Whoever reads this forum trying to get information regarding a possible employer might want to take into consideration the sheer fact that someone spent at least 3 hours writing that email.
Embittered - that's what YOU seem, Turbster, towards me and perhaps towards all those who say something unpleasant about The Institution in general. If you are in Oman and have some real interest in talking about anything, you are very welcome to give me a phone call and contact me in person, instead of writing on a forum bitchy messages  |
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lynchem
Joined: 09 Mar 2011
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:18 am Post subject: |
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What I find disappointing here is that the supporters of the management team of the FI at UNIZWA are still blinded by their own ignorance. All Mr Gavoni has done is to create
awareness, thru this forum (which is why this forum is here) of a supposed academic institution that continues to IMPLODE due to the complete mis-management of the incumbent
management team. All prospective teachers contemplating working at UNIZWA SHOULD be made aware that it is now a FAILED department and a black listed campus. I presume that is
all Mr Gavoni's intentions were. Instead, we have the same old boring contributors throwing spears of contempt at him, and others, for daring to shed the truth re the ongoing
failure of the FI.
In support of that truth, this latest email posted by Mr Gavoni, was written by a new teacher who was only employed at Unizwa in November of this year. He was subsequently
sacked after one month because he displayed qualities of academic intellect and ability that the incumbent mis-management team are threatened by, because every single one of
them is intellectually and academically disabled.
Lets not forget, over the past year and a half, this department had 42 teachers leave, mainly due to the negligent academic practices and the destruction of the department as
a whole, perpetrated by the new Director.
This exodus was confirmed by the non-renewal of 10 teachers, all of whom were long term teachers, two ex assistant directors, the then curriculum committee chairwoman and seven
members of the curriculum committee. The Director had ordered their non-renewals branding them as "bad" teachers. No, they were actually just ordinary experienced teachers who
knew how to run a department of academia and had been doing so long before the new Director took office. The truth is, because of their academic experience and abilities, they
were deemed a threat to his childish despotic, nepotistic ineptitude and intentions of divide, conquer and rule. (As a result, UNIZWA now has four cases of breach of contract
currently before the Ministry of Manpower and Judicial Courts of Oman, and as a point of interest, most of the "bad" teachers are all now employed at real universities in the UAE,
Kuwait, and Sultan Qaboos University, Oman where their expertise and experience was welcomed and now valued).
So it is interesting to read the comments of another recently sacked teacher, exposing the management team for exactly the same reasons that all the previously sacked teachers
tried to bring to the attention of the Director himself AND the Chancellor. "But Batman, I thought it was all the previous "bad" teachers who were the problem in the FI??"
"SHOOOSH Robin, Khalil Gibran's writings deal with Christianity, especially on the topic of spiritual love."
When the new Director came on board he dismantled ALL the committees, threw out the updated and revised curriculum, threw out the textbooks and introduced NOTHING to replace
them. The department, as the latest sacked teacher has pointed out yet again, still doesnt have a curriculum. That now equates to four whole academic terms that the FI hasn't
had a curriculum. He also points out that there are still no textbooks, let alone ANY policies or procedures regarding any aspect of Academic accountability. Seriously, units
in a university environment without textbooks or curriculum, for four terms????? Please, forgive me, but are anybody elses eyebrows raised???
So please, instead of throwing cheap shots, based on 2nd hand information from FI sychophants, at concerned teachers, surely we should be seriously looking at what all the
previous sacked teachers were actually saying all along. And if not them, can we at least read of another current sacked teachers experience, and many other newly arrived teachers,
who have quickly realised and are attempting to bring to our attention again, the same negligent practices being perpetrated within the UNIZWA FI. Surely where there is continued
smoke over an almost two year period there must surely be a little spark of fire and truth.
Ultimately, it is the incumbent Director and his incompetent mis-management team that are responsible for the continuing mess and failure of the Unizwa FI. They are the ones who
should be held accountable and dismissed. The damage they have caused to the reputation of UNIZWA is now irreparable. What is most surprising is that the Chancellor actually allows
the facade to continue. And what is most disgraceful, is that all of the Directors ego-centric delusions, failings and inability to provide, let alone implement or manage, a program or
department of University level Academia is still being perpetrated against the students, who are the future of the Omani nation. And it is their parents, who are paying top dollar for
their sons and daughters to receive nothing but a 'lets play games' kindergarten level illusion in return. Only those with equal amounts of incompetence, those who can't get another
job, retired pensioners, those with bogus masters and 40hr online TEFL certificates and defunct horse trainers would support that!!!
As Khalil Gibran wrote in "Sand and Foam" (1926): "Half of what I say is meaningless, but I say it so that the other half may reach you". |
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urbanversion
Joined: 27 Jan 2011
Posts: 426
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| Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 2:01 pm Post subject: re: on the other foot... |
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| BTW, calling students "towel heads" is racist |
And so is students calling teachers "kaffir" or is it all a 1 way street? |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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Dear urbanvision,
Both are disrespectful and insulting. However, one hopes that teachers would have more maturity and common sense than such students.
Regards,
John |
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