Job Discussion Forums

[mrpeech]

Hi all,

Just wanted to know if anyone had any recent/prior experience with phony schools in the Kingdom.

[nomad soul]

What exactly do you mean by scam schools? The majority of vocational colleges and universities in KSA are public institutions. There are plenty of privately-run, generic k-12 international schools serving KSA's diverse population, but faculty tend to mostly be non-westerners.

Be aware KSA has a tight sponsorship system in which the employer is indicated on the expat teacher's work/residence permit and entry visa. Ditto for business visit visas --- the sponsoring company is named on the visa. Plus, the visa process involves several government ministries starting at the employer's end. As such, that would certainly deter private entities from opening bogus schools.

If anything, there are sketchy/unethical contracting companies. However, the universities and institutes these companies place teachers at are legit.

[mrpeech]

I mean phony schools that exist only in name, set up to illicit monies from job seekers for jobs that don't exist

[sheikh radlinrol]

[nomad soul]

[veiledsentiments]

This has been rather common for the UAE in the past 10 years, but there has been little report of such in Saudi.

And yes, the way to avoid getting scammed is to never pay agency fees or especially the usual visa scam where you are requested to send a "money order" to someone at a supposed ministry.

VS

[RustyShackleford]

To be fair, when I was hired for my job, I was advised just that - send a money order over to a travel agency with a kinda sketchy-looking website. However, they did indeed arrange my visa paperwork. Company was Atl-ntic Travel.

Use caution. Vouch for things whenever you can. Get a second and third opinion.

[nomad soul]