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cmeeks1
Joined: 28 Dec 2007
Posts: 9
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 Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 6:42 pm Post subject: SAIS |
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Does anyone know anything about this school; The Sharjah American International School. Any advice or tips for living in this emirates and working with this school. Literally any help would be great.
Also how diffficult is it to purchase/lease a car in the UAE.
Thanks |
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edsegio
Joined: 07 Aug 2009
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:18 pm Post subject: Re: SAIS |
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| cmeeks1 wrote: |
Does anyone know anything about this school; The Sharjah American International School. Any advice or tips for living in this emirates and working with this school. Literally any help would be great.
Also how diffficult is it to purchase/lease a car in the UAE.
Thanks |
Here are some tips about the school:
- If you're an attractive female, the owner will know your name and talk to you regularly. If not, he'll probably never say hello.
- The principal has been known to tell teachers, "promises don't mean anything," (direct quote) when referring to a promise regarding pay.
- Get a hold of a copy of the medical insurance. The contract (at least it used to) said worldwide coverage, but it turned out not to be.
- Students grades are often changed at the end of the year by the principal, so don't concern yourself too much with being honest in grading - just pass the kids and move on.
- The principal told the students during an assembly that if they get 90% in the first term, then they should not be proud of getting 90% in the third term because it is not an improvement.
- There's no follow through on discpline. Even students that have been expelled have returned after enough parental complaining. In fact, when something really bad happens, parents are often not informed of it because the school doesn't want to be embarassed.
- Teaching staff used to be locked out of the main lobby in the middle of the school for 20 minutes at the end of the day. This was to prevent students from going to the main lobby.
- Try and get an overhead projector. Don't expect to have resources.
As for a car, yes, once you eventually get your visa, it's easy to purchase. Most teachers went about a year without a visa. You can rent any time.
Most western teachers play out their contract and look for something good after.
Enjoy your time, and good luck! |
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cmeeks1
Joined: 28 Dec 2007
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:46 pm Post subject: |
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So clearly you have first hand experience at this school. Have you found that they are consistent evaluations for most schools in the UAE or specifically for this school.
housing?
thank you for your replies and honesty. |
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edsegio
Joined: 07 Aug 2009
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:50 pm Post subject: |
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| cmeeks1 wrote: |
So clearly you have first hand experience at this school. Have you found that they are consistent evaluations for most schools in the UAE or specifically for this school.
housing?
thank you for your replies and honesty. |
No, these are certainly not the norms for UAE schools. It should be said that SAIS does pay decently (they're not the bottom but certainly not the top) and the housing can be quite reasonable. Most teachers start sharing a large 2-bedroom that is very close to the school. It comes with TV service and utilities are paid for. I know that some single teachers were put up in studio apartments.
The school's KHDA rating was "acceptable". This baffled both the admin and the staff, but for different reasons. The admin believed that they should be rated "good", while the staff was shocked that it was rated that well.
Like with many things here, you have to push for what you want, you have to get promises in writing (if something was in writing then they would hold up their end of the deal), and you have to be prepared for a certain degree of what you might consider to be ridiculous (you can't make your own photocopies, internet searches with the word "game" are blocked, 1hr internet limit per teacher per day, etc.).
Most teachers give to a school what they get back from it. Don't be surprised when you see a horde of teachers waiting to sign the sign-out sheet at 3:15 PM so they can go home. Working late is odd at this school, but the norm at others.
In summary, it's better than no job at all, that's for sure. Mind you, it's the only school I've been at and _not_ returned to because of the kids. Usually it's the kids that make you want to stay. Of course, this changes from class to class.
Last edited by edsegio on Tue Aug 25, 2009 2:05 am; edited 1 time in total |
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cmeeks1
Joined: 28 Dec 2007
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 12:02 am Post subject: |
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thank you again for your help!!!!!
how recently did you work there.
could you advice any more reputable schools. |
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