Job Discussion Forums

john2005 · Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 16

I recently heard from a friend that qualifications like MA's and Phd's earned via distance learning mode of learning, are not necessarily recognized in Saudi Arabia. Is this true?

If they're not, then why the hell not? They require just as much study time (10 hours per credit hour) and one studies the same modules that one does on full time study mode.

If this is a government policy in KSA, then shouldn't the British Embassy here speak to the Ministry of Education and sort this out. This will then open doors of employment for British (and other) teachers with qualifications earned via distance learning.

Any thouhgts on the subject, please share.

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

Did you try a search? This topic has been covered numerous times in the Middle East branch...

It pretty much comes down to... their country, their rules... if one doesn't like it, one needn't apply...

Change will come when and if they can't find enough teachers with the credentials they currently require.

VS

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 5:13 pm Post subject:

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

You need a valid first degree to work as a teacher in a school in KSA. To the best of my knowledge the only University in the UK that gives accredited Bachelors by distance learning is the Open University. I don't know whether the Saudi Cultural Mission validates it or not. The list from the Education Ministry doesn't have it on, but that has not been updated since 1406.

With regard to Masters and Doctorates then the requirements would depend on your hiring institution; they should insist on Saudi Cultural Mission accreditation but, as another thread here has pointed out, there is at least one University Department of English in Saudi headed by a person with a bogus degree form a notorious degree mill. To the best of my knowledge the Saudi Cultural Mission accredits post-graduate degrees from accredited universities irrespeictive of how the degree was earned.

The situation is, I believe, different in the Emirates.

john2005 · Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 16

Cleopatra: In retrospect, may be I shouldn't have used the words 'sort out' as it can be misunderstood and may be taken as an offence by some. But to clarify, I didn't mean to cause any offence to anyone. I just meant to say that not recognizing qualifications earned via distance learning from reputable British Universities seems wrong and somebody should do something about it. It could be that the MoE in KSA doesn't fully appreciate or has misconceptions about online degrees which the Cultural Attache or the British Council or similar could aleviate.

Many British Universities now offer Postgraduate studies to TEFL teachers who may not have a Bachelors degree but who may have substancial teaching experience. What are the employment prospects for somebody with an MA TEFL but without a bachelors degree? Does anybody know.

TEFOFF · Joined: 23 Jun 2005 Posts: 36

John,
are you really saying you got a MA in tefl, without a bachelors degree? If so good luck to you, but it seems like a bit of a magic trick. Wink

Cleopatra · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 5:12 pm Post subject:

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

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

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Dear Veiled

I could be nasty and say that Amercan degrees don't need degrading. It is certainly true however that most British Universities will accept foreign students without the appropriate language skills for the course they have enrolled on. The more prestigious then force the hapless punter to do a year's EFL courses first.

It is not usual to accept students for Masters without a Bachelors (though in the case of people with pre-1975 teacher certification I would defend it as a reasonable practice) but as has been mentioned it does happen. The problem only arises when the MA without the BA wants to work in the State Sector somewhere.

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

I didn't mean it in a nasty way... we could go all day on the pros and cons of various sytems. From what I have seen both of our systems are heading down the toilets. Laughing

But, our opinions don't matter anyway... it's all about money now.

So... are you saying that it is usually those in the old system of education certs that are getting to bypass the BA? That would seem fair enough. I got my BA in a small college that was part of the old US system of Teacher's Colleges spread across rural America from the late 1800's. By the time I arrived, their curriculum had expanded and they were rewarding legitimate first degrees. My piece of paper would get me the same salary as someone who graduated from Harvard with an education degree. (which translates to the usual lousy pay)

But, back to your example, could a secondary school grad who had been working for 10 years in a garage get into an MA in Linguistics program if he had the cash? Or are they looking at 'related' life experience as counting the same as a BA... say someone who had been doing volunteer teaching with local programs for a few years...

VS

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

I didn't for one moment think you were being nasty. I was just being mischevious.

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

jamesfromscotland · Joined: 13 Oct 2005 Posts: 23

This is crap about not needing a degree to work in Saudi..I am working in quite a prestigious environment .. I even have contact with the princesses..but Saudis are haughty, disrespectful...I am almost 50 and have taught such al ot of countries including 5 Muslim ones before this and they are to put it mildly...,up their own ass.. if you can prove you have the experience to work in a certain field they wll accet w/o a degree

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Where I teach, sunshine, the formula is simple : no degree = no job !