Job Discussion Forums

[zaylahis]

1. When do Colleges and schools for the new term open again?
2.when should new teachers expect to be informed about their departure date for Oman?One week, two weeks before term starts? Hope not!


After sending in our papers to MOHE, we are waiting for them to tell us when we have to leave for Oman but so far there is silence. I know that it is summer there but some of us need to hand in notices and we need to make preparations. Could anyone advise please?

[Duffy]

Zaylahis,

The first Semester (note the American influence here) will commence on 1st September 2007. There will be a week of inactivity, that is except for those colleges who stream their students. Some did last year, some didn't. Here in Salalah we did and it helped the students enormously. There will be a placement test so we can stream them and then teaching "should" commence in the second week I put this in brackets because each College has its own methods.

Who recruited you???

If it was the "Mr Majid" who admitted to me he worked, at that time for Hawthorns, you may possibly have to be prepared to leave Oman and go to Dubai. This means that your temporary visitors visa will be cancelled and he can work on getting you Ministry visas, which initially last for 2-3 months during which time they can process you all and get you the full 2 year visa. Having said that, for some unknown reason, mine is for 18 months!!! But that is Oman.

I paid for my own airfare which was refunded. Curiously, when I was met at Muscat having arrived from my Dubai sojourn, I found out that the weekend spent in the Al Falaj Hotel was to be deducted from my first months salary, ok it was only about 50 OMR, but isn't that weird?

Ulimately, after all this stuff, you will be employed direct to the MoHE and will recieve a higher salary than those contracted to CfBT or Hawthorns and will have the "luxury" of having a MoHE employee who can take you swiftly through the Visa and other processes.

Duffy

[zaylahis]

Thanks Duffy. We were interviewed by the Head of Department of the College of Applied Sciences and a man from MoHE. Subsequently I was contacted by someone from MoHe and myr documents were sent to MoHe direct.

So far I have not heard from them about when I am expected to report or where they will send me. When asked, they said that they could not say yet where we will be posted. The immediate concern is, however, when we are expected in Oman as I need to tie up matters etc. And how much notice do I get? Is it safe to assume that I will be given only a few weeks/days?

I am in Malaysia at the moment. Hmm..having to pay first for my ticket..that doesn't sound too good!

[Duffy]

Z,

If you are a direct employee there will be no problem with the visa as they will have the temporary one ready.

Don't know about the airfare, that would be a hefty bill I would think, but you get it back eventually.

As to when you arrive, well the administrators I have met certainly have never been in a hurry to do things. Perhaps a reminder from you to them would be in order?

Try for Salalah if you like swimming, fishing, diving and off-roading around the mountains. Steer clear of Ibri, Nizwa seems fine, heard lots of not good things about Sohar, but then, people say things like that about their colleges, know nothing about Sur and of course Rustaq is now the Education college for teachers.

Duffy

[zaylahis]

Thanks Duffy. But do rookies have a choice in where they will be sent ? And why not Ibri. All I know about Ibri is that it is the hottest place in Oman and facilities are poor?

[zx20]

z,

recall the worst place you ever lived in, then multiply it by 5 and you'll have some idea how bad ibri is, its the pits. Its dirty, dusty, always hot and stores are badly stocked. As for the college forget it, man. Go some place else, like duffy suggests.

[zaylahis]

Will do but again...do rookies have a choice in where they are sent??? Should we state this upfront before going and even if we do can we be assured that we will not be sent to Ibri?

[veiledsentiments]

There are no guarantees that you will get the place that is first on your preferred list, but it doesn't hurt to put in a polite request. They normally inform you of where you will be assigned before you go... and I would insist on knowing... so that you can back out. If it is all done without seeming too demanding, you can probably at least be sure of not being placed in Ibri.

VS

[boundforsaudi]

Is your agent Majali? He assigned me to Ibri two years ago. Before I left for Oman I told him to change me to Salalah and he said he would. I could not believe that when I arrived he had actually done it. About the only thing he said that turned out to be true. But Majali no longer has Salalah in his portfolio. That's gone to CFBT. You could try asking the ministry directly, but I wouldn't hold my breath. If you go to Ibri, look at the bright side. It may still be an all-girl school. And it's closer to Muscat and Dubai than Salalah.

[zx20]

FYO ibri college now teaches young men as well as young women. Not sure this is such a grand idea coz theyre scared to talk with each other. Its all about losing face. Let me tell you that in general their behavior was just fine. I had no problems with the students, as i said in an earlier posting. Dont wanna put you off but if youre an organized kinda guy youll be pulling your hair out in ibri! Is that clear enough for you?

[boundforsaudi]

The chaos comes mostly from the MOHE. It could be mitigated by a HOD willing to stand up to them. Doesn't sound like there's one in Ibri, but there's not one in Salalah, either.

[Duffy]

BFS,

You left us a year ago and went to DU. Even though you kept in touch,
you obvously were not updated, as some of the folks you spoke to had their own individual axe to grind.

Ok, the HOD in Salalah MoHE college is not as effective as one would wish, BUT you show me one who is!!!

It is not the HOD who runs the show, but the dedicated teachers who help him formulate matters pertaining to the particular college who support him.

Notice I say SUPPORT, not decry, not despise, not blame him for their own lack of teaching skills.

I tell you, in the two years I have been here, I have never seen so many misfits in the teaching ESL discipline than here in Oman.

Basically there are agents who want "bums on teaching seats" regardless of any real or "quasi qualification". Who are not regulated by their employers (MoHD), have their proposed applicants approved because quotas have to be filled.

Let's face it, some of the MoHE people who are responsible for recruiting ESL teachers on behalf of theat Ministry, just do not know what they are doing. They rely upon certain agents to bring them "good" teachers - HA!!! what makes a good English teacher?? That is as long as it is broad.

The only truly independent ESL recruitment agency I know is CfBT. Oh, I know some will disagree, the majority of those who do will be the ones who were subject to a telephone interview, (Bad way of doing it!!)recruited and then were subsequently found wanting in their teaching abilities.

Hopefully next Academic year will bring better teacher "In'shallah)

Duffy