Job Discussion Forums

[wilberforce]

It seems like the Independent schools are having some problems. I have gal pals working in some of these schools and most have been unhappy on three fronts: salaries, accomodation and administration. They are having a hard some recruiting and/or keeping western teachers.

Read this.


http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=294725&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16


Independent schools draw flak for dismal show

As many as 18 members of the Advisory Council have strongly criticised the independent schools for having failed in carrying forward the task of education in a balanced manner, according to reports published in the local Arabic press.
In a debate initiated on their request during the council�s session on Monday, they vehemently spoke against the overall performance of these schools. They lamented the fact that the status of teaching of the Arabic language and religious studies has been relegated to a dismal level.
Referring to the reports published in the press about the poor performance of these schools they said that it is a matter of regret that in spite of tremendous moral and financial support from the government, these schools have failed to achieve the set goals.
�Many parents are sending their children abroad for university education at their own expense since the Supreme Council for Education has accredited only a selected number of universities,� said the council�s rapporteur in his remarks.
�I do not understand what was wrong with our traditional government schools; and why did we have to rush for this concept of independent schools. The status of education in these schools is very disappointing and frustrating for many parents,� said Khalid bin Rashed al-Labda.
�Making English as the medium of instruction from nursery to university level of studies is the most dangerous trend we are witnessing now. It will ultimately lead to the loss of our national ethos and identity. Under the pretext of modernisation we should not be enamoured by many glossy and glittering presentations,� warned Mohammed al-Sulaity.
�It is a matter of much regret that the teaching of Arabic � the language of our faith and the Holy Quran - has been reduced to a dismally low level. And similarly the teaching of Islamic studies has also been relegated. In the 1950s and 1960s the syllabus was based on a comprehensive and graded teaching of different aspects of Islam. But now there seems to be no importance for such a course. It is considered as a secondary subject of not much relevance,� said Dr. Ahmed Obaidan.
�We have heard many unpleasant things from teachers working for independent schools. We are a small society and the number of our students is not enormous. We feel that we should go back to our previous system of education,� said Ahmed al-Ahbaby.
The debate was concluded by the council chairman, Muhammed bin Mubarak al-Kholaify, with the observation that the matter should be referred to the council�s committee for cultural and media affairs for further discussion.

[wilberforce]

On the other hand - to keep things in perspective ....

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=284509&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16

[wilberforce]

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&month=June2009&file=Local_News2009060561231.xml

SEC integration in two months, says Minister
Web posted at: 6/5/2009 6:12:31
Source ::: THE PENINSULA


Minister of Education and Higher Education H E Saad bin Ibrahim Al Mahmoud
DOHA: Integration of the Ministry of Education and the Supreme Education Council (SEC) will be completed in two months and the process of transferring employees of government schools to Independent schools is currently under way, the Minister of Education and Higher Education H E Saad bin Ibrahim Al Mahmoud has said.

The Minister said establishment of Independent schools under the SEC marked a major milestone in the development of education in Qatar.

�Independent schools have adopted international standards and a student-centered approach. An advanced educational system is a necessary pre-requisite for sustainable development,� said Al Mahmoud.

He said committees have been set up to select the outstanding employees of the Ministry of Education as part of the staff transfer process. The procedures for the transfer will be announced through the SEC website very soon.

The rights of all Qatari employees will be protected during the process as per guidelines from the Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, he added.

�We encourage the Qatari staff in the Ministry to join Independent Schools and contribute to nation-building through their expertise in education,� said the Minister.

He said the SEC was working on regulations regarding the pay and perks of the Qatari employees at Independent Schools.

�We hope it will not be less than what is being offered at other government organizations. We are also trying to develop the skills of the school staff through training programmes. Salary hikes will be based on competence and performance which will be decided after careful evaluation,� said Al Mahmoud.

He said such regulations will help provide job security to the staff. The service of any employee can be terminated only with approval from SEC and it should go through a series of procedures.

�Job security is extremely important and we will take all steps to realise it for the Independent School employees,� said Al Mahmoud.

He said efforts are also underway to address the problems faced by parents in getting their children enrolled in Independent schools.

�We are following the difficulties faced by some parents in this regard. A solution will be found in the near future,� said the Minister.

To ease the admission process and avoid duplications, the SEC recently linked all Independent Schools through an electronic network. Now parents are required to apply in one school and the selection process has been made easier and faster.

[NASA]

The Independent Schools and the SEC have lofty aims. However, some of the schools are being undermined by incompetent operators who are only running a school for prestige or as a business to make money. They expect to make high profits.

A group of us are shortly leaving our school because we've been bullied, overworked and mistreated by our school head. If these schools want to function well, they need to make the operators accountable for their actions and behavior. All administrators, no matter where they work, should be held accountable for what they do. They should also be evaluated by staff as to their competence. It works both ways. Teachers are constantly being evaluated for all kinds of things; it's time these people were also assessed in the same way. Most teachers work very hard to ensure that their pupils get a good education. When they are constantly thwarted by someone who really doesn't know much about education or who is in it for the prestige, then there will be problems.

We are sad to be leaving Qatar where we've met some wonderful people.
We've worked with some super Arab ladies from different countries. Our pupils, with only a few exceptions, have been lovely. It's a shame we have to leave but our bullying boss and the inadequate salaries make it impossible to stay. The SEC must ensure fair treatment of all teachers and ensure that the operators are running their school properly.

[wilberforce]

You're absolutely right, NASA. I've heard similar tales from some of my gal pals. These schools seem to have a hard time keeping western teachers because of the treatment and poor wages. Even the worst western schools usually treat their teachers better.

Some of the gals complain the accomodation is substandard; one apartment I once visited had no window in the living room. The bathroom sink was the same size as a sink in a plane.

It's very true about administrators. They need to be held accountable and evaluated just the way they do their staff. Unfortunately far too often, they get away with just about everything and anything. It's called power mongering and control. It's the way things work here. Sometimes power goes to their heads and they just think they're the king of the road. Unfortunately, many teachers end up as roadkill.

BBy the way, it's good you you stayed and finished out your contract. At least, you can leave with your head high. In another post you said you were going to write a letter to the SEC about your boss. Did you write it? They should know what's going on in their schools.

[wilberforce]

You're absolutely right, NASA. I've heard similar tales from some of my gal pals. These schools seem to have a hard time keeping western teachers because of the treatment and poor wages. Even the worst western schools usually treat their teachers better.

Some of the gals complain the accomodation is substandard; one apartment I once visited had no window in the living room. The bathroom sink was the same size as a sink in a plane.

It's very true about administrators. They need to be held accountable and evaluated just the way they do their staff. Unfortunately far too often, they get away with just about everything and anything. It's called power mongering and control. It's the way things work here. Sometimes power goes to their heads and they just think they're the king of the road. Unfortunately, many teachers end up as roadkill.

By the way, it's good you you stayed and finished out your contract. At least, you can leave with your head held high. In another post you said you were going to write a letter to the SEC about your boss. Did you write it? They should know what's going on in their schools.

[wilberforce]

http://www.english.education.gov.qa/schools/EISresults.php

http://www.english.education.gov.qa/

[wilberforce]

http://www.english.education.gov.qa/schools/EISresults.php

http://www.english.education.gov.qa/

[wilberforce]

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&subsection=Qatar+News&month=July2009&file=Local_News2009071224114.xml



Majority against making govt schools independent


Web posted at: 7/12/2009 2:41:14


DOHA: Some 82 percent of respondents to a survey on Independent School conducted by Al Sharq say they are not in favour of converting government schools into Independent Schools.

Only 14 percent of the interviewees said they supported the move while four percent said they were undecided.

The daily referred the findings to some experts and one of them, Laila Al Subei, director of preparatory schools at the Ministry of Education, said in her analysis that those who said they favoured converting government schools to Independent Schools could be parents of students of the latter since they knew the benefits.

Eighty percent of the respondents who said they did not support the move of converting government schools into Independent Schools could be those parents who failed to get their children admitted to Independent Schools, she said.

According to Al Subei, changing government schools into Independent Schools in a short period of time could have an adverse impact as people are by and large opposed to change and get used to it in a gradual manner.

Another commentator, Fahad Al Hajri said that he believed that Independent Schools had unqualified managements and teachers. He said that his wife is a qualified and experienced English language teacher but she was refused a job at an Independent School because the woman staffer who interviewed her was a graduate of Islamic studies and not of English language and literature.

[wilberforce]

Teachers eye certification from GLOBE
Web posted at: 7/18/2009 0:54:31
Source ::: THE PENINSULA
Dr Nawal Al Sheikh
DOHA: Over sixty teachers from the Independent and Ministry of Education schools recently participated in a joint workshop to develop their skills required to obtain certification from the international Global Learning and Observation to Benefit Environment (GLOBE) programme.

Teachers from 33 schools took part in the training programme aimed at linking Qatar�s curriculum standards to real world applications. The Certification allows teachers to improve their competency to teach complex subjects like hydrology, air quality, ozone layers and soil quality to their students.

GLOBE is a worldwide, hands-on primary and secondary school-based initiative to highlight science education programme. The programme aims to bring together students, teachers and scientists to collaborate, study and research the dynamics of earth science.

�Qatar has hosted two international training workshops in the region and was involved in a series of training workshops in Doha from March 2 until April 2009�, said Dr Nawal Al Sheikh, the national coordinator of the GLOBE programme, who is also the Communications manager of Supreme Education Council (SEC).

�We are really excited to bring in these opportunities into our schools. Science is a critical component of a world-class education and having GLOBE-certified teachers we are on the cutting edge�, she added.

The GLOBE programme stresses scientific inquiry, which is increasingly important in the new science curriculum taught in the Independent schools. Teachers are emphasizing the importance of the methods of scientific investigation and how scientists conduct research projects, in the class rooms. The programme can also help improve student performance in science, math, English, and IT skills through experimentations and pedagogical applications.

�Qatar�s education system is very creative and it provides great opportunities for development programmes for teachers and students�, said Professor Zakieh Ahmed Zadeh, the regional coordinator for the GLOBE in the MENA region. The autonomy given to school operators on how to manage their schools allow for a creative school environment through the ample resources available�, she said.

Hamda Nasser, a science teacher at Al Markhiya Independent Primary School for Girls said: �GLOBE programme can produce excellent results and raise the level of academic achievements for students in science. The programme�s strength lies on its emphasis on observation and practical applications�, she said


http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&subsection=Qatar+News&month=July2009&file=Local_News2009071805431.xml

[wilberforce]

K-net for all Independent Schools now
Web posted at: 7/19/2009 1:54:4
Source ::: The PENINSULA / (BY SATISH KANADY

DOHA: The Supreme Education Council (SEC) has linked all the Independent Schools with a broadband wireless internet connection to enable teachers and students to access to the Knowledge Net (K-net) portal, which provides both teachers and students access to the teaching and learning resources.

The groundbreaking K-net is a project launched by ictQATAR with the support of the Middle East�s leading software professional services firm ITWorx.

ITWorx and ictQATAR successfully rolled out Phase II of Qatar�s groundbreaking Knowledge Net portal � which provides teachers with smart IT tools and students with access to learning resources anytime, anywhere � to an additional 37 schools recently.

This follows the success of the first phase of the project for which ITWorx developed and rolled out Knowledge Net to an initial 12 independent Qatari schools.

The Knowledge Net portal, which is based on the Microsoft Learning Gateway, allows students to receive and submit assignments, share information with each other, and research projects from anywhere with an Internet connection. Teachers can send and receive homework assignments, provide feedback to students and parents, upload study material, and prepare and grade exams online.

Students and teachers also benefit from vast electronic resources of Britannica encyclopaedia in preparing their assignments and learning resources. While Tawasol, a sub site of K-net, allows teachers from different schools to interact with each other and exchange their educational experience electronically.

�Building on the foundation laid by Phase I of Knowledge Net, we have rolled-out Phase II with new portal features to improve user experience and enhance technology�s support of student achievement,� explained Dr. Ghadah Omar Al-Fakieh, ictQATAR e-Education Manager. �Additional training has been provided to teachers to assist them in integrating Knowledge Net into their teaching practices to maximize the portal�s benefits and ensure students deepen their technology skills so they can realize their goals.

�K-net has proven to be beneficial for students, parents, and teachers alike,� he added.

Retaining the expertise of WSP Edunova UK, a specialist education consulting agency, ITWorx extended Qatar�s online learning environment and provided full training to teachers in this new phase.

K-net is a threee-way educational portal that connects students, parents, and teachers any time, day or night. Utilizing a unique Learning Management System, K-net provides teachers with instructional tools and resources; parents with instant access to teachers, coursework and upcoming tests; and students with the ability to communicate with peers and submit homework assignments. K-net improves content delivery, facilitates accessibility, enhances communication and expedites administrative tasks.

THE PENINSULA

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&subsection=Qatar+News&month=July2009&file=Local_News200907191544.xml

[lollaerd]

Note -This policy is not recommended by educational advisory groups.

Parents can�t withdraw kids from Independent Schools

Source ::: The Peninsula
DOHA: Parents of students at independent schools will have a tough time withdrawing children according to a new regulation of Supreme Education Council. Independent schools can no longer strike off a student�s name from the enrolment list merely at the request of parents. The new disciplinary policy makes revoking children�s registration and long absence from classes liable to legal action. A parent�s insistence on doing away with a child�s enrolment from a school or a student�s non-attendance should be brought to the attention of authorities. These changes have been introduced to ensure that no child is deprived of his right to education

Qatar has a compulsory education policy, according to Article 49 of the Constitution which stipulates that all citizens have the Right to Education and the State shall try to make general education compulsory and free of charge in accordance with the laws and regulations of the State. The stage of compulsory education in Qatar starts from primary to secondary schooling or reaching the age of 18, whichever comes earlier. According to SEC�s new guidelines, school authorities cannot revoke a student�s registration even if parents request. If any parent insists on withdrawal from school, the issue will be brought to the notice of Qatar Foundation for Child and Women Protection (QFCW) and then the prosecution department will be informed.

The system has also specified that schools can strike off students� name from schools if they are found to be above the stipulated age or have failed to clear examinations. A student above the age of 18 and planning to work; or if a student plans to leave the country or get married � in the case of girls � schools can strike the name off the rolls. In all other cases, schools should inform the authorities. If a student is absent for 20 working days in a semester, or 30 classes in two semesters, QFCW will be informed.

The warning letters and documents which were sent to students and parents will also be submitted proving the follow-up. These provisions are aimed at ensuring that students are not deprived of education and sent to work. Parents who violate these rulings will have to face legal action.
Late last year, an amendment of some provisions of Law Number 25 of 2001, had increased the penalty for the father or guardian of a child for not sending him to school without a valid reason. The amendment (introduced vide Law No. 25 of 2009) increased the fine for the above offence to between QR5,000 and QR10,000, from QR1,000 and QR5,000 earlier.