Job Discussion Forums

[riccddem]

Anyone contemplating working for CECN at the Colleges of Technology in Oman should really think several times before following through. They are a badly run company, the Colleges of Technology are poorly administered by Indians who are always afraid of being replaced, and the students are the worst that the educational system there has to offer. College of Technology is a euphemism for trade school, nothing more. You will end up in a roach infested, filthy apartment with a mattress filled with bed bugs. If you want to know more low lights contact me.
Rich([email protected])

[ESLJ]

Looks like things haven't improved. That doesn't surprise me at all........

[manoflettersk466]

I would like to address a few of these issues you've raised:
1. CECN is a Canadian hiring company: but they have notheing to do with the running of the colleges in Oman: that is under the authority of the Omani Department of Education.
2. Some of the colleges are run by Indians: some are run well and others are not. As with any institution (in Canada or anywhere) there are good leaders & educators and administrators....and bad ones. And yes it would only make sense that some of the hired help from India would be scared to lose their jobs: they are supporting Many family members back home, and are very fortunate to get these very high paying jobs!
3. You obviously only have a very slight knowlege of the country's educational sysytem. The entire country is trying to overcome decades of educational neglect, and quickly get its youth into a newly created diversified economy... they are actually doing a great job...doing something the Western countries took centuries to do...establish a whole educational framework etc. The students chosen for the colleges are not the "worst" in this new system, but among the best. This does not mean they are up to the standards of a North American "college."
4. The colleges have no "trades" in them at all. They teach courses in computers, business, civil architecture etc .... skills this country desparately needs to quickly get this country into the 20th century.
5. In my time with CECN I never heard of any teacher (and I knew dozens) who had any of those complaints you are on about with regard to your housing. All of our apartments / beds etc were new or almost new, and clean.

[TEFOFF]

I think the CEC experience is somewhere in the middle of what the previous two guys said(as with most things on this site). CEC has really screwed over some people to the point where their bitterness is wholly understandable. Also for some reason there are a certain number of CEC teachers who seem to believe the sun shines directly from this organisation's uranus (teachers usually aboard for the first time), and it's quite difficult to understand those people. It can do a diservice to those other teachers who do complain, for legitimate reasons, and who are doing so for their own good, but also for the other teachers' benefit as well. Like other organisations it's only a few who make it a mess for everyone else, and there are a lot of good people at CEC in Oman who deserve better. Those teachers who have escaped CEC through whatever means, and who have landed on the sunny shores of SQU or the teachers' colleges or further aboard, would do well not to be too smug, and instead give thanks, and spare a thought for their fallen comrades.

[riccddem]

This is a typical CECN reply,when in trouble distort.
1.The teacher signs a contract with a Saudi man who operates from Dubai, it's not Canadian, and the contract is the important thing.
2.The Indians are afraid to lose their jobs to Canadians hired through CECN, thus creating a suspicious environment between the groups that is understandable and also undesireable. It results in a clash of philosophy over expectations, discipline, and other educational issues. The Indians employ what amounts to a reverse racism, allowing students to do whatever they want, and subverting the educational process as a result. This is how they protect themselves; they just see no problems, and have no expectations for the students.
3.The best students go to universities, the next best to the teachers colleges, and the poorest students to the technology colleges. It should not be missed that the students are paid to be there, and if not for that, they wouldn't come. There is a complete and utter absence of motivation on the part of most students. This is chiefly because 90% of your students don't understand 90% of what you say.
4.A typcal technology major here often has no clue as to how to use email. It should not be missed that College of Technology graduates can't get jobs except with a government ministry. That says it all.
5. Concernig apartments, not only are they the pits but CECN has one surly person responsible for solving apartment problems for the whole country. New and clean is laughable. It's ridiculous!