Job Discussion Forums

[kuberkat]

Any MOHE College teachers out there have more details about the summer school scedule/ location/arrangement/remuneration package yet?

When staff were approached in March, the venue was still unknown, and though the work would be paid, any takers would lose their annual ticket money. This struck many as horribly unfair, and it was recommended to the Ministry that a more equitable package be arranged, which would include accommodation subsidies for out-of-towners, holiday leave outside of summer vacation and, of course, the ticket money to which employees are contractually entitled.

Any word from the tangled grapevine would be appreciated.

[Duffy]

Hi,

Regardless of any recommendations, as you will know matey, the Ministry are a law unto themselves as to what is decided where and when!!

Having seen the so called "Achievement Test" I can guess that the results will leave only very few , and that is those who really, really could not do it, for Summer School. They will probably hold it in Sohar,so the teachers who are being gazumptd with higher rents will have to stay there to keep their homes. Cool move by the MoHE eh?!?!?

Look forward to others comments

Duffy

[kuberkat]

Scandal! Though if the poor Sohar teachers have to guard their apartments, that leaves the rest of us to greener pastures...

The elastic Achievement Test results are disturbing...

Thank you, Duffy. More info is welcome.

[yumyumkorea]

There will apparently be two venues for the summer school, one will be Ibri, and I'm not sure about the other, possibly Nizwa.

As has been observed, the final examination did not leave much slack for failure, though from the recent 'marking party' in Muscat, I am informed that there were failures, whether enough to warrant two venues I'm not sure.

If only one college is to be chosen, my money will be on Ibri, it's the cheapest area with regard to accommodation.

As regards the loss of the holiday allowance for those teaching the summer school, I understand that the reason you are paid more is because you give up your holiday, you can't have it both ways, either take the money and do the work, or collect your ticket money and b..... off.

[kuberkat]

Looks like our different sources are leaving us to the crystal-gazing we are becoming so proficient at. Thanks for the input, yyk. I have just been informed by my HOD that, as both posters have noted, failure rates are very low (meaning we will struggle with those who scrape through after summer). The summer school locations he put his money on are Nizwa, Salalah and Sohar.

And speaking of money, doesn't it strike anyone else as odd that someone taking summer off gets their ordinary salary and ticket refund for doing nothing, but those who work get their ordinary salary and an additional salary (valued at 4 to 8 times the ticket cost) for working in the sweltering heat? This tempting situation has made me choose to take the route of sloth and go see if my hometown is still standing this summer.

[veiledsentiments]

Something about this makes no sense to me. Summer school is normally a short intensive course... no reason why one couldn't teach it and still take a short leave... with your contractual ticket.

I'm not sure what the system is now at SQU, but when I was there, we got our pay and our ticket (funds of which were at a local travel agency). We could use that ticket before or after the summer session depending on the dates... or use the ticket perhaps in January during semester break. That was their contractual obligation. Summer school was paid separately.

IMHO, that is the ONLY fair way that meets their contractual obligations. People who volunteer to brave the summer weather should get something extra, and not have to give anything up.

Vs

[Stephen Jones]

It is strange you lose your ticket. Normally you would take a shorter holiday and be paid extra for the holiday weeks you worked.

[veiledsentiments]

I suspect that if someone took this to the Omani labor court, they would win it... even against the Ministry.

VS