Job Discussion Forums

[bengt]

Hi all,

I'm not looking for anything specific, just any information about your experience with the school. I've already browsed the forums and it seems like elitism is the biggest complaint. Any other info?

[johnslat]

Dear bengt,

". . . (PM me for credentials)"

You need 2 more posts before you can send/receive PMs.

Regards,
John

[bengt]

Thanks...

[bengt]

... for the tip I'd rather retain anonymity on here throughout the process.

[lollaerd]

Do you mean the junior school? the senior school? the Learning Center?

The Learning Center has had a lot of problems in the past few years, mainly due to management. The heads have changed fairly regularly and I've heard the current one will be leaving at the end of the academic year.

The junior school seems to muddle along. The High School has been having quite a few problems. The school is an IB school but the majority of students have private teachers and private lessons to enable them to keep up. Teachers need to be IB qualified. If you're not, they may not consider you.

[bengt]

Sorry, I didn't specify -- it's the Senior School I'm interested in.

[lollaerd]

Since the high school has been running, there has been a lot of different heads, principals, etc. Most don't last more than two years and some have lasted even less. This means problems with continuity. Another problem is Americans view IB differently from the British and other Europeans so there have been some conflicts over this, despite the fact that the program is more or less fixed in stone.

One major problem is the students' parents who can arrange to get a teacher fired for very trivial things. This has happened on several occasions so you have to be careful what you say and do; students can easily misunderstand or misconstrue and all it takes is a complaint for a teacher to be told they have to leave. There have been several cases of teachers having to leave within a week or two of being given notice. Unlike the American schools in Education City which provide support to faculty and back them up in these sorts of disputes, Qatar Academy has not been known to back their teachers and willingly or unwillingly send them on their way if the parent demands it. There is a case of a teacher who was fired and the student later told his parents he'd lied. He didn't realize his life would get the teacher removed. He was angry over something said in class and lied to get revenge. So be very careful what you say to students.

Housing is also a problem for some people. I've visited some of the apartments out in their big housing compound in Bani Hajar. It is out of the way but very close to QA - a ten minute drive a most in a traffic free zone (very important in this city). The apartments are very small, especially the apartments assigned to single teachers. The living room is smaller than my bedroom. If you have a family you might be lucky and get a three bedroom apartment (still small). There are also villas but those are mainly for management, big families, senior teachers, etc. The recreation facilities there are nice - clubhouses, pools, etc.
Some teachers try to get a housing allowance so they can live somewhere else. Since rents are falling, this could be an option. However, the housing allowance has not been increased for several years and as rents are going down, it is unlikely to be increased. I am not sure how much it actually is but a teacher I was seeing a few years ago, who took the allowance instead of the accomodation, mentioned 7,000 QR. She's gone back to Australia, partially because her landlord raised the rent and her allowance remained the same. I have no idea what the current housing allowance is. I think it is not a big problem to get the allowance as there is a shortage of accomodation in their Education City Housing compound. You can rent a 2 bedroom or maybe even 3 bedroom furnished apartment for 7,000 nowadays but you have to pay electricity. The compound is all inclusive, TV, equipment, electricity, etc. The other reason she left was because a dispute with her department head at QA. The dispute was not resolved and she decided to go home.

Despite these problems, there are many teachers who like working there and have been there for some time. The IB program is very good and some of the students are really hardworking. There is nothing wrong with having tutors but some students have tutors for every subject. Unlike the American School which actively discourages private tuition for its students, Qatar Academy encourages it (it is a lucrative sideline for many high school teachers in less well paid schools.) The salaries are also very good and much better than any other high school apart from the American School which really treats its teachers well. Have you applied to this school?

[Jen_USA]

Anyone else have anything to say about QA?

Do all the teachers live in the same buildings? Or do other people live there as well?

[bengt]

Thanks for the info, lollaerd. American School looks good too, but hasn't posted any English positions (yet) for next year.

[Jen_USA]

Any more info on this place???

How is housing for singles? Anyone there at the moment who can comment?

jen