Job Discussion Forums

[Strolling minstrel]

Khaleej Times, page 3, 13th August.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?section=theuae&xfile=data/theuae/2006/august/theuae_august385.xml

Roughly translated that means 50 new classes of students to be admitted each studying roughly 25 hours a week. So with HCT's 20 hours a week contracts that means (erm...) roughly 70 new teaching positions, of which 50 should be TEFL. Now where on earth do you recruit them in mid-August??

[thrifty]

They always find TEFL teachers. There are so many TEFL teachers and potential TEFL teachers.

[caliph]

Oh, they'll attract "TEFL" teachers alright, but how qualified are they, and are they native speakers?

[Spin duck]

At the very least, it keeps them off the streets and mischief, as anywhere, so it's understandable from a socio-political perspective.

Though some students will take opportunities they might not have had (good for them), it doesn't sound promising in terms of maintaining the already low average quality of student.

Experienced (and very hard-working) teachers are required in such a situation, but are they available? More contact time/independent learning responsibility for exisiting teachers? More flexibility in terms of teacher recruitment - less experienced teachers accepted?

[caliph]

It's not only teachers that are needed, there are no classrooms for all these students. The quality level of the recent incoming students has been abysimal, there is just no hope for them to succeed unless standards are lowered.

Teachers are overburdened with long contact hours, large class size, (25), unnecessary administateive duties and the constant introduction of new computer technologies (just so they can have the newest flavor of the month, never mind that no one ever gets a chance to become proficient at it before something newer and better is thrust upon them), makes for a very stressful work experience.

On top of that, no salary increase in 10 years, (they were nefariously bypassed by the 15-25% increase that all other government employees got, rumor has it that the money went to fountains and fireworks), skyrocketing rents that has put most people over their allowance and are expected to pay the difference out of pocket, the almost doubling of petrol prices and the knock-on effect that it will have, one wonders why the HCT is attractive to anyone anymore.

BTW, a lot of those new teachers will be assigned to the new "campus" in Leewah, way out in the desert, 3 hours drive from anything.

[veiledsentiments]

Well, if you look at that number across the system... what is there 14 branches now? And the larger portion of that 1165 are probably out in Liwa since that appeared to be approved after the original input was done. But, worst case and that isn't true... that would be about 80-85 students per branch assuming that they all show up - which would require appr 4 more teachers.

Does anyone remember a year that they didn't need at least 2 extra teachers at every branch in September? And if necessary, the new unofficial requirement for MAs will go by the wayside. Finding the fill in teachers in September always seemed much easier for them than their regular hiring with its mysterious criteria. As I recall most of them tended to be teachers with elementary experience and to be honest they fit right in and did a darn good job. Every one of them in my time ended up with permanent contracts and assistance getting a CELTA using their current classes... a win/win situation. But, you had to already be there with a residence visa from a spouse...

Hopefully they will be able to do the same this year rather than burden the teachers already there further. One wonders how long it will take for the deteriorating situation to have enough effect that the higher ups will take notice.

VS

[Spin duck]

[caliph]

Ther 1165 students are NOT going system wide, they are ONLY in the Abu Dhabi emirate, meaning divided among AD, Al Ain and Leewah. Leewah will have about 200 students.

"Oh, oh yes, I'm the great pretender"

[veiledsentiments]

Spin duck...

Always seemed very smoke and mirrorish to me. It amazes me that friends have managed to stay there for over 10 years. Stronger stuff than I possess...

Anyone in AD or AA with some kind of credentials and the need for a paycheck... here's your chance...

VS

[Manny2]

Yes as Caliph has mentioned the extra funding that has come through is just for the Abu Dhabi emirate. It seems that funding for the HCT's no longer comes from a central budget , as in Abu Dhabi is no longer willing to bankroll the other emirates. However, while Caliph also mentioned that many new hires may be pushed out to the new campus in Madinat Zayed but if you look at the HCT recruitment page all jobs for Madinat Zayed are seperate advertisements - it is not the central pool- presumably they only want people who want to go there !! maybe if they have difficulties filling these posts they may indeed put pressure on those who make it through the central pool to give Madinat Zayed a go - BTW I also noticed that it is now specifically referred to as a 'Men's College' - does that mean that there will be no women enrolled there this year ?...seems surprising as there are far more female students than men in the system.

[veiledsentiments]

It would be nice if the people going out to the hinterlands went by choice. That is how they did it when RAK and Fujairah were both starting out. Once they were established for a few years, teachers came out of the pool.

I had also noted previously that the website referred to it as a "Men's College" but Amal (who almost always has the latest news and views for us) posted lately that their student intake has many women students.

As usual, not too many facts on the ground with new places...

VS

[Manny2]

VS agree that 'Amal' or was it 'Afra' posted recently re numbers - both men and women - to the new campus , but up to this week it was simply referred to as HCT Madinat Zayed and I just happened to notice that now it does say ' Mens'...not that it really matters as jobs there are open to both male and female faculty. Plus now they are also advertising for Math and Computing faculty ...so lots of jobs out there for those brave enough to venture to the wilderness

[Afra]

When Gulf News published the figures for the student intake for 2006 - 2007, they stated 70 male and 120 female students for MZ. Presumably there will be two colleges although teachers might work at both as is done elsewhere.

[veiledsentiments]

Oops Afra... sorry about calling you Amal... it was a bit early in the morning for me.

I suspect that you are right about the teachers working at both colleges... as they did when RAK opened.

VS

[NadiaK]

One campus for now...split shifts...