Job Discussion Forums

[majid ramzan]

Hi all!

I am applying for my first step in an anticipated lengthy career in ELT and hopefully would like to do this in the Middle East.

I have a combined degree in English language and TEFL (Teaching English as a Forign Language), and have a little experience in practical teaching. I am a native speaker of English.

I have four children at secondary level and two at junior. I would like to gain employment at one of the international schools in KSA where the British GCSE curriculum is taught, so potentially the school fees can be hopefully capped due to me teaching there.

I would really appreciate if anyone has any information or can make some suggestions about schools that have good academic standards, yet also have a fairly good Islamic environment. I ask this as all my children have been in Islamic schools in the UK and are comfortable in this setting.

I want them, my wife and me to all experience life in a Muslim majority country and if we all like it, we may continue our stay.

Has anyone worked at one of these schools that fir my criteria?

Please advise, I am now ready to begin applying!

Thanks, Majid Ramzan.

[desert date]

[trapezius]

You need a PGCE as the poster above said.

About the schools, here is what I posted in another thread:

There are a few British schools in Saudi Arabia; 2 in Jeddah, 1 in Riyadh, and 2 to 3 in Dhahran/Khobar. I suggest you apply to those. The pay ranges from SR. 11,000 to SR. 15,000 per month (for new hires, otherwise it can as high as SR. 20,000). These schools are coeducational.

Aside from the above Western-managed schools, there are many tens of Asian/Arab-managed British curriculum schools. They don't pay well, about SR. 4,000 to SR. 6,000 per month. These are segregated.

And there are American schools as well, again, a few are Western-managed (1-2 in each of the main cities I mentioned above), and many are Asian/Arab-managed American curriculum schools. Pay rates are similar to what I mentioned above for the 2 categories.

Seek these schools out and apply to them.

[scot47]

You need to be qualified and registered as a teacher to get a job with the likes of BISAK, the Continental School etc. They also expect teachers to have a few years mainstream UK teaching experience. Fresh graduates are not usually hired.

"a little experience in practical teaching" will not do.

Other schools may have lower salaries, and lower expectations.

[majid ramzan]

Thanks guys, appreciate the feedback.

Scot47; from what I�ve researched so far Manaraat and ArRowaad are schools that have some degree of an Islamic environment and also a decent standard of academia. I can appreciate the fact they don't offer good packages, but I am hoping the small rental income form my home in the UK would supplement the deficit. Theretofore, not being registered as a teacher and not having accumulated teaching experience, I believe and hope, may be overlooked.

desert date; I don't have a PGCE, yet am hoping this would be overlooked as the schools I am applying for offer lesser salaries than those that have PGCE requirements.


trapezius; I have to sacrifice the higher wage packet in order to achieve the objective of getting the kids into the similar Islamic environment they�ve come to enjoy in the UK, so theretofore I would be applying to the Arab/Asian managed schools.


Thanks again guys.

Please advise if any one has more info on Manaraat and ArRowaad schools. Anything on the following issues would be greatly useful:

Good admin staff (helpful, honest and not expecting more than what the contract states!)

nature of pupils (behaviour, teacher-student relations)

materials (sufficient, provided)

workload (would I have a life?!!!)

[desert date]

[scot47]

I know people who have taught in Manarat. Reports are not good.