Job Discussion Forums

The_Hanged_Man · Joined: 10 Oct 2004 Posts: 224 Location: Tbilisi, Georgia

Hey all,

I was just offered an interview with the American School of Kuwait, and was curious if anyone knows anything about it.
Is this one of the good schools?
Will I be able save anything on an annual salary of $25K US? (The package includes a furnished apt with utilities).
How is the apartment/living arrangements there?
Thanks!

British Tutor Kuwait · Joined: 25 Nov 2005 Posts: 41 Location: Kuwait

Respectfully suggest that u insert the exact name of that school as the word American and/or British often used in naming such - be specific ....

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

I noticed on the listing of the schools recruiting at the Boston ISS Job Fair that there is one listed as the "American School of Kuwait" and the "American International School of Kuwait."

It might be helpful to applicants if you could discuss either or both of these schools.

VS

The_Hanged_Man · Joined: 10 Oct 2004 Posts: 224 Location: Tbilisi, Georgia

Heh, the name of the school is "The American School of Kuwait". It's the embassy school where the majority of the N American students go. Anyways, I have already had the interwiew, and I was offered the position. The school seemed really solid so I decided to sign up with them. So I'll be in Q8 starting in August! Cool

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

You hit on the key important detail... if this is the school that the embassy kids use, there is usually no problem. (or at least only the same kinds of problems one finds right here in the US...)

Where the problem occurs is when the only thing 'american' or 'british' is the word in the name of the school. Cool

Congratulations. Be sure to read around on the board as there is plenty of information about making the move and I'm sure that your new employer will also be helpful.

VS

Myshkin · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 11 Location: Various

I'm speaking from limited personal experience, but I've been there a couple of times. I didn't see too many American kids. The school is privately owned, by a Kuwaiti Although it has a relationship with the US Embassy, it is not "the embassy school" if that is what they told you. They do have a nice photo of the elder Bush on the wall in the HR office.

I know a guy who has a kid in the senior level, and thinks the school is the bomb. I know a lot of others who have less glowing views--especially at the lower grades. I've also heard allegations of racism, and discrimination that I would not dismiss lightly.

Of course, none of these concerns may apply to you, but were I in your shoes I'd request the tel and email of current faculty to see how they rate the school.

Hope things work for you whichever way you go.

The_Hanged_Man · Joined: 10 Oct 2004 Posts: 224 Location: Tbilisi, Georgia

Ah ok, yep it is private school so I guess it couldn't be an official embassy school. However, since it's the school where all the embassy kids go that's pretty much just symantics. From what I gather it is the "best" american school in Kuwait (which admittedly isn't saying a whole lot Rolling Eyes

), with good facilities and excellent IT. There was a bit of a snafu with the housing situation last year, with the housing being moved a half hour away, but most people have dealt with that now. All in all I'm really looking foward to starting there, and leaving public school teaching in the US behind. Very Happy

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

Yes, you will leave behind many of the problems that you encounter in US schools these days, but expect to find new and different problems. Cool

Just expect a few bumps on the road and lots of aggravation dealing with the Kuwaiti bureaucracy (even the Kuwaitis complain about that) and be ready for some truly hot weather.

Just go with the flow...

VS

alyshia · Joined: 17 Mar 2006 Posts: 12 Location: Kuwait

Yes, you will be able to save money on that salary if you try. (e.g. don't travel around the world and furnish your apt. lavishly) Laughing

Fred Bilbo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 52 Location: Kuwait

The salary is very low. If you are a fully qualified teacher you should be on $35,000 at the very least.
It is expensive to live in Kuwait, so don't plan on saving much on that salary.

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

Hey Fred... who in Kuwait pays that kind of rate? I hadn't heard that even KU had acheived that level... Maybe AUK?

It is rare for a K-12 place in the Gulf to pay much over US$25,000... since most of the teachers tend to have only a BA and limited experience. (we don't know about the OP)

VS

Fred Bilbo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 52 Location: Kuwait

VS. With the grestest of respect you are a little out of touch with pay scales.
$25,000 per year is only 608KD, I knew a teaching assistant 3 years ago who was paid 650KD.
$35,000 per year is only 850KD, I believe many of the teachers at the British schools would be receiving that as basic +++. Then private tuition.
KU is a very low paid position, but also a light teaching load,
IPETQ, Qualitas and other English language teaching contracts pay some of their teaching staff 700-750KD ++.
Those teachers working in the corporate sector or for the Government have packages which are very much more lucative.
$25,000 a year even with housing is IMO not a good enough wage for a fully qualified teacher.
You could however still save on that amount.

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

Well, I go by the ads that I see and what people say they are being paid or offered, and other than perhaps one or two of the better international schools in each Gulf country, the vast majority of jobs seem to be in the lower brackets.

From what you say, it would appear that I am pretty much right. 700 to 750 is between $27-30,000. I don't recall seeing anyone on this board who has received an offer of much over 750 KD. Maybe those that get better offers don't post here. Laughing

Of course many (most?) of them have little experience and only BAs.

VS

The_Hanged_Man · Joined: 10 Oct 2004 Posts: 224 Location: Tbilisi, Georgia

Ok, my salary is right around 9000KD which I know isn't great, but is right around what all of the American schools pay. The British schools do pay better, but supposedly we makeup for it by having health insurance, more professional development options, and better resourced classrooms.

At 750KD per month how much do you think I could realisticly save assuming I lease a car and live a modest (although not monastic) lifestyle?

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

You should be able to save a good portion of it... if you normally do you own cooking for instance. Hopefully Fred can come on and tell you what cars are leasing for these days.

When I was there, they had a shared taxi system where you organized with a group to go to and from work. It would be great if you could do this with other teachers. A car is not as essential there as it is in a place like Oman. I made do with shared taxis and regular taxis for the first 5 months. Kuwait has to be one of the worst places in the world to drive.

With a modest lifestyle you should be able to save half of your salary at least.

VS