Teaching in Dubai

Teaching in Dubai and UAE schools

Thursday 24 July 2008 (UAE)

www.dubaifaqs.com

Schools, Colleges and teaching jobs in Dubai - General information


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See the list of schools in Dubai (and UAE) for more details on individual schools (with fees, teacher salaries, and student / teacher ratings where available).

Like most places, Dubai has a wide range of schools ranging from ones that students hate to ones they simply dislike intensely. Homework is almost always given in sufficient quantities so that students begin to see child slavery as an appealing alternative, and a wheelbarrow for all their textbooks would be a very useful purchase. School buses are warm enough in the summer heat so that if your wee darlings bring food with them, it will arrive at school cooked to perfection.

Having said all that, not to worry. It is possible to find buses with reasonable air conditioning and smaller books. Generally, you get what you pay for. Kindergarten and primary school students will usually have a great educational experience. Secondary school students will complain like they do anywhere.

One of the great things about education and schooling in Dubai is the opportunity to meet students from a variety of countries and cultures and form valuable life-long friendships with them, as well as gaining a much greater global awareness compared to reading a social studies book in your home country. This effect is of course lessened if children attend a school with predominantly one nationality eg the Icelandic school of snowmobile maintenance and walrus wrestling (with apologies to any Icelanders reading this).

Focus on the benefits of getting educated in Dubai or teaching in a UAE school, and you'll have a great time and a highly memorable experience. But do investigate carefully where you're going before packing up, so you don't wind up in an intolerable situation.

Schools in Dubai, Abu Dhabi & other emirates in the UAE

For expats, children will often go to a private school catering to whatever nationality and qualification preference you have, or an international school with a more mixed student body. There are American and British curriculum schools of course. But there are also Arabic, Australian, French, German, Indian, Iranian, Japanese, Russian etc curriculum schools based in Dubai and the UAE. Some of these schools are governed by the embassy of that country (a total of 18 in the UAE in 2006).

Note that the name of the school won't tell you very much on its own. It is not unusual for schools in Dubai with Indian curriculums to be called an English school of some sort. Dubai and UAE schools with an Arabic sounding name eg Al Shusma School will not necessarily have an Arabic curriculum. Dubai schools with an international sounding name could well be solely Arabic or Indian curriculum schools. Schools in the UAE with French sounding names will be French though. Which, in an odd way, is quite surprising.

Some names will sound a little odd. The Little Flock English School for example obviously had admirable intentions but unfortunately it sounds like an angry father had a hand in the naming process.

In June 2006, the UAE government said that expat students may go to government schools. This had previously been the case but then there was a change that required all expat children to go to private schools. So who knows how long this reversal will last. Note that all government schools are Arabic speaking and offer local UAE qualifications which do not have much value if applying for English-speaking Universities outside the UAE (and not so much for some universities in the UAE either). Only students of Arab nationalities are expected to apply for places at government schools.

26 Jan 2007 - Gulf News reported that Public Schools in the UAE will allow expatriate students to enrol from the beginning of the next academic year (September 2007). They may need to complete an entry exam for Arabic, English, and Mathematics. Fees of 3000-6000 dhs per year are payable.

Latifa School for Girls and Rashid School for Boys (both in Dubai) are two excellent government funded schools where, although the majority of students are Emirati, they are educated in English and follow a British curriculum. Difficult to get a place there (or a job as a teacher).

Ages and equivalent grades can vary a little. Some schools will have grade 13 as the final year, but other schools will call it grade 12. Depends at what age the school starts grade 1. Other schools may have Year Groups instead of grades but Year 6 will usually be equivalent to Grade 6. And so on.

School fees in Dubai

School fees range from a minimum of around 5,000 dhs per year at a crowded and poorly resourced school to 50,000 dhs per year or more at one of the more reputable schools, for example Dubai College or American School of Dubai. Some of the expensive schools have the added reputation of being snobby so it's not all bad if you miss out on a place there.

School fees quoted are often for tuition only. The bus fares, uniforms, books, field trips, musical instrument hire, etc can all add up to an extra few hundred dhs or even a few thousand. Check carefully what the fees include.

Public, or Government School fees have been set at 6000 dhs per year for all grades from Sep 2007 (previously they were 3000-6000 depending on the grade). Unless we've misunderstood the news from 05 July 2007, and the fees really are just for student uniforms.

Student information for schools in Dubai

Students are expected to wear uniforms in most schools (one or two of the American curriculum schools, French, German and other European schools may not have this requirement).

The school day usually starts between 0700 and 0800, and finishes between 1400 and 1500 with a standard lunch break. KG and primary students will normally have a shorter day. Extra-curricular activities run later in the afternoons. Non-western curriculum schools usually have two shifts with girls attending in the mornings and boys attending in the afternoons.

Strictly speaking, the UAE Ministry of Education requirements are that students should be segregated according to gender. At least at secondary level, and teachers should be the same gender as the class. Most schools following a western curriculum however, have mixed classes from K-12. Every now and then there is some discussion regarding stricter implementation of the segregation rule but then the summer comes and when students return, things seem to carry on as they were.

UAE Ministry of Education requirements are also that Muslim and/or Arabic students must study Arabic and Islamic Studies throughout high school. Each school implements that in different ways - some expect all their students to attend Arabic and Islamic Studies classes for example, others exempt non-Muslims and non-Arabs. Check with the school what the policy is.

Extra-curricular activities in Dubai schools

Parents and students may find after-school options more limited than they are used to. Sometimes because schools themselves focus more on the academic curriculum. Sometimes because it's difficult to find teachers who will volunteer for extra-curricular duties. The hot climate also means that outdoor activities have to be shelved for several months a year.

The schools with a good range of activities on offer tend to be the well-established non-profit organisations with an active Parent-Teacher Association and Board of Governors interested in the education of students as a priority. Most of the private schools in Dubai and the UAE are profit-making establishments, and the clash between business interests and education seems to be most evident where extra-curricular activities are involved.

Admission Requirements for Schools in Dubai

Usually a selection of the following documents will be needed to succesfully register a child at one of the Dubai schools or colleges. Check with the individual schools in Dubai for exact details - requirements differ between schools, age groups and nationality.

Passport copies with a valid residence visa or Khulasat Al Kaid for Emiratis.
Birth Certificate copies (check with school if English and/or Arabic translation is required). If they're not in English and you're applying for the first time to a school in the UAE, take them to the UAE embassy in your country to have them attested before you leave.
Passport photographs (less than a hundred should be enough).
Health card or evidence of medical insurance.
Vaccination card or immunisation record.
Transfer Certificate from previous school. Check with school for details - if coming from overseas, you will need to have a transfer certificate certified by (if it's not in Arabic, authenticated translations will be required - English maybe not):
- the education authority in that country (check with the UAE Embassy if this step needed)
- the UAE Embassy in that country
- the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE
- the UAE Ministry of Education in the UAE or possibly your country's embassy in the UAE
Transcript/Progress Reports from previous school (same certification process as for Transfer Certificates).
Letter of recommendation or similar from previous school.
Successful completion of any entrance tests/exams and personal interviews.

English Curriculums and qualifications

A-levels - Advanced levels (UK/British)

Assessment by exams at age 17 or 18 (grade 12 or 13) after a two year course of study in each subject.
Students attain awards in individual A-level subjects and normally do 3 at a time.
AS-levels are a watered down version of A-levels and may be completed in one year.
Universities will specify minimum A-level grades required for entry and in which subjects. Investigate carefully before making A-level choices as it's not easy to change your mind later.

AP - Advanced Placement (US)

Similar level to A-levels and IB although some would argue that APs are easier.
Prerequisites for entry to American universities.

CBSE - Central Board of Secondary Education (Indian)

Governing body for a syllabus with exams at the end of class X and XII in Indian curriculum schools.

GCSE - General Certificate of Secondary Education (UK / British)

Assessment by exams done at age 15 or 16 (grade 10 or 11), each subject is a two year course.
Students attain awards in individual GCSE subjects but it is common to do up to 10 subjects at a time.
Schools will have their own required list of subjects which will probably include English, Maths, Science.

IB - International Baccalaureate (International in English, French, Spanish)

Qualification gained after two years of study at senior levels - age 17-18 or grades 12-13. Courses can be done in English, French or Spanish - depending on the school (currently, unlikely there are any French or Spanish schools offering IB in the UAE).
Well respected qualification around the world for entrance to universities - some UK universities express a preference for it over A-levels.
To complete the full IB Diploma, students must complete courses in 6 different subjects and something called Theory of Knowledge, do additional activities involving community work and sports/hobbies, and do an original project/essay.
Six subjects will be assessed with final exams. The course overall is quite challenging and some of the Higher Level exams can be especially difficult.
Students need to be careful of any particular university entrance requirements when choosing subjects. Not all subjects are equal depending on which university attended.
Students can do less than six subjects at IB level (depending on school rules), they will receive IB certificates for each subject they successfully complete.

IGCSE - International General Certificate of Secondary Education (International)

Similar to the British GCSE but intended for students of all nationalities wishing to study in English and move on to an English speaking University not necessarily in the UK.
IGCSE itself is not a university entrance qualification (although apparently some American universities do accept it) but usually leads on to an IB or A-level course.

ICSE - Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (Indian)

Administered by the CISCE (Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations) for Class X (Class 10) students.
ISC - Indian School Certificate.

NC - National Curriculum for England (UK / British)

Sometimes referred to as just the "National Curriculum". The abbreviation NCE is not usually used.
The National Curriculum is program of study that was introduced into schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland after the Education Reform Act 1988.
The NC consists of 4 'Key Stages' with educational goals to be attained during each stage, and assessments at the end of each stage. Subjects studied at each stage in the UK are:
- Key Stage 1 (KS1) age 5-7: Art and Design, Design & Technology, English or Literacy, Geography, History, Information & Communication Technology (ICT), Mathematics or Numeracy, Music, Personal Social & Health Education (PSHE), Physical Education, Religious Education, Science, Welsh.
- Key Stage 2 (KS2) age 7-11: same as for KS1.
- Key Stage 3 (KS3) age 11-14: Art and Design, Careers Education, Citizenship, Design & Technology, English, Geography, History, ICT, Mathematics, Modern Foreign Languages, Music, PSHE, Physical Education, Religious Education, Science, Sex Education, Welsh.
- Key Stage 4 (KS4) age 14-16: Careers Education, Citizenship, English, ICT, Mathematics, PSHE, Physical Education, Religious Education, Science, Sex Education, Welsh, Work-Related Learning.
UAE schools following the NC will not offer Religious Education, or Sex Education. Welsh is unlikely to be offered - in the UK it is only a requirement for schools in Wales. There may be other variations with the UK NC guidelines.
GCSE or IGCSE exams usually follow KS4.
There is a Foundation Stage for 3-5 year olds (sometimes called Key Stage 0 / KS0), and a Post 16 stage (sometimes called Key Stage 5 / KS5) for 16+ but they are not compulsory education levels in the UK.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is the governing body for the National Curriculum, and associated exams and tests.

SSC - Secondary School Certificate (Indian)

Indian state run curriculums/exams. Some regard the courses and exams as easier than ICSE or CBSE.

Teachers and Teaching Jobs in Dubai

Teachers in a good school will usually enjoy the experience. The students are interesting and enthusiastic, generally well-motivated (if not, parents paying 30,000+ dhs per year will motivate them), and compared to teaching in any other big city, you'll have no or few discipline problems.

There are some schools which are less pleasant though. Long hours for little reward (although the students usually appreciate the teachers' efforts) and seemingly endless difficulties with administrative procedures - visas, housing, etc. Some schools will have discipline problems that are difficult to deal with - students threatening teachers with getting them sacked for example (if management supports the students, it becomes awkward). Al Ittihad school (boys section) and the Technical High Schools seem to crop up in conversations regularly as being places to avoid, or leave as soon as possible.

Most schools are somewhere between the two extremes. Read any contracts carefully, get everything down in writing, don't expect any favors once you've signed up, don't rock the boat once you get here and you should be fine. Just like any job - read the jobs in Dubai page for a bit more detail.

One thing that annoys many teachers who first move here is the favoritism shown towards certain students (the ones who have a degree of influence over school management for whatever reason). It's the way it goes here and it won't change in a hurry. Just remember that if you lose your job because of your principles, the student will probably still get what they wanted. And you won't have a job.

Like anywhere, office politics can be a blessing or a curse depending on how you adapt to it. Ignoring it is not usually a good idea though.

Dave's ESL Cafe is a useful website with a fairly comprehensive discussion forum for international teaching.

Salaries for teaching in Dubai and the UAE

There is supposed to be a minimum teacher salary of 2000 dhs/mth (for most jobs in Dubai there is no minimum salary) but some schools try to pay less than that, at least according to several press articles. See the teacher salaries in Dubai discussion.

Salary range for classroom teachers is 1000-3000 dhs per month for most government schools and 1000-20,000 dhs per month for private schools. Schools with IB, UK or US curriculums usually pay the highest - the better ones are 10,000-15,000 dhs per month (and accommodation, flights etc included), at the top of the range you could get 15,000-20,000 dhs per month in 2008. Indian schools pay about 2000-3000 dhs per month. Other Asian schools are similar, other European schools are closer to UK/US curriculum schools with their packages.

On the school detail pages, if there is no teacher salary information, the school fees will give an indication of the salaries on offer. Divide the annual secondary school fee by 3 to get a very approximate monthly salary figure, or divide the primary school annual fee by 2. Reduce the result by 25% for profit-making schools. This should give you a mid to high point on the school salary scale.

Teachers should check carefully what the salary package includes. Most overseas hire packages will include accommodation (which can vary from very good to slum), medical (which can also vary substantially - a government health card is only regarded as a bare minimum), return flights once a year (if the school insists on making bookings for you, this can be an aggravating experience). Some will include allowances for transport and utilities, and free or reduced tuition charges for children attending the same school.
If a school offers an accommodation allowance instead of accommodation, it is likely to be insufficient for good accommodation - assume it will cover about 50% of your rental costs (which are normally paid one year in advance in full). Especially in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and until 2007 at least, it's difficult to even find properties for rent.
Teachers on local contract hires will normally not be offered any of the above and may find it difficult financially if they have to cover their own accommodation costs - rental properties are very expensive in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Check also the policy for salary increments. Some schools do not move teachers up a salary scale irrespective of years of service or additional qualifications gained.

Teacher Recruitment Agencies and Finding Jobs for Teachers and Teaching in Dubai

The local UAE recruitment agencies and newspapers are not the best source of teaching jobs. The better options are

Make a direct approach to a school that you're interested in. If you send a letter or fax or email, don't address it with Dear Sir/Madam. Find out the name of the person in charge (school details pages may have a name). Phone the school to confirm it's up to date.
ECIS - European Council of International Schools - organise teacher recruitment fairs. The main one is London in Jan/Feb but there are others.
Global Recruiters claims to be a Dubai employment agency but you should confirm anything from them independently. So far we have seen teaching job offers from them for 3 different schools in Dubai, none of which appear to exist: Deira Homeland School, Atika Language School, Zafirah Language Institute. They also charge job-seekers a fee, a practice which is not allowed according to UAE labour law.
IBO - International Baccalaureate Organisation - has a page with IB related jobs (not very many usually).
Search Associates - organisation set up to help teachers find teaching jobs in international schools, has an annual job fair in Dubai. Mostly for Asian and Middle East schools.
TES - Times Educational Supplement - UK weekly newspaper with good listings of international teaching jobs.
TIE - The International Educator - a US based publication with many international teaching jobs. Comes out infrequently.
Other recruitment fairs and agencies.

Private Tuition

Many parents are keen to supplement their children's education with extra lessons. And many teachers (especially the underpaid ones) will enthusiastically supply such a service. Therefore it would seem that the supply and demand equations balance out and all is well with the world. Except for the grumpy student who would probably prefer to hang out and be cool with his or her classmates somewhere else.

Well, the UAE government appears to support the grumpy student perspective and private tuition is officially illegal (with the threat of severe penalties ...) in Dubai and the UAE. This ruling apparently arose as a result of complaints that teachers weren't teaching classes properly to more easily persuade students they needed extra (paid) tuition.

Not surprisingly, one tends to find that there maybe an element of truth in that claim in schools where teachers are paid very low wages.

However, should you want to find a private tutor for one of your eye's apples, it is relatively easy. And teachers willing to offer their services should find an ample supply of students, especially in areas like Maths, Science, English and other languages. Going rates amongst western expats are 100-200 dhs per lesson depending on level and subject.

Irony will rear its unlikely head on occasion, and lift your eyebrows, when you discover who some of the clients for private tuition are.