Tag: UAE

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New pay structure upsets some Emirati teachers

Mariam Al Kaabi has had enough.

On February 6th Shireena Al Nuwais of the National wrote an article titled:  “Emirati teachers threaten to resign over new pay scale”. The National interviewed Mariam Al Kaabi, a teacher at Al Ain’s Umm Kalthoum High School for 18 years. She, along with a number of other teachers, has threaten to resign because they feel they have been misled.

“They called this an increase and a way to encourage nationals to be teachers, but I say that this is a new system to push away and deter national teachers, said Mariam Al Kaabi. The new salaries are not an increase. They just included our housing in the salary.”

The overwhelming majority of Emirati teachers like Mariam Al Kaabi does their job, are strong supporters of their country and want a quality education system. That is why it is very unusual for such a person to come out publicly. What events occurred for her and others to threaten to resign?  After all the UAE has been very public in its desire to increase the number of Emirati’s in the teaching field.

Here is some background on what caused this very public outburst.

On November 26, 2013 a number of UAE English newspapers including The National, Gulf News, and Khaleej Times reported that Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), announced that the education salary structure was to be adjusted offering up to 35 per cent greater pay and benefits for Emirati teachers, leaders and administrative staff across the emirate of Abu Dhabi public school sector. The reason was to encourage Emiratis to join the education profession.

“The fewer the number of Emiratis who take up education-related careers, the fewer Emirati graduates we have for roles in public school. Such a decline could not only lead to a lack of Emirati role models for pupils, but could also result in pupils losing their national identity and values,” said Dr. Mugheer Al Khaili, director general at the Adec.

However when I reviewed the ADEC release I did not find any statement, which was specific about the percentage of raises.

In the website release it was stated:

“The salary structure for teachers, principals, assistant principals and administrative staff at public schools in Abu Dhabi, has been initiated to raise the quality of education and increase the participation of Emiratis, while promoting a comprehensive vision to develop human resources and the status of teaching in schools. The new salary structure comes in line with requirements of the new organizational structure to ensure a professional work environment based on governance, transparency and excellence, while promoting quality education through employing and attracting qualified teachers with experience. The plan will also help retain administrative performance, create new jobs and update the duties and roles of other basic jobs.”

Is this a misunderstanding of what is included in the revised compensation package? Was it clearly communicated to the teaching professionals before receiving their new paycheck? I cannot find any definitive statements on the public ADEC sites which clearly lays out the old package, and the new one. It is clear that some teachers feel a significant raise in pay was promised in November but did not occur.

So what happens next? Will the public school system see a number of Emirati teachers not return for the new school year? Let’s hope that is not the case. If the school system wishes to increase the number of Emiratis to join the education profession it is important to retain current Emirati teachers and administrators.

Hopefully the issue is being addressed and will be positively resolved for everyone. The UAE needs more, not less male and female Emirati teachers, to help educate the nation’s children. To lose experienced teachers is a waste of talent.

 

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Looking for a New Challenge

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In early January I made a decision not to renew my contract with Ankabut the United Arab Emirates Advance Network for Research and Education where I have work since October 2010. My resignation will not take effect until October 2014. I wanted to give Ankabut time to find a replacement and I have a few important projects to complete.

Some people I know when they learned that I’m leaving asked the question; “What Happened? Did they not renew your contract, or are you unhappy with the organization, the money, the title or the boss?” The answer to all these questions is NO.

Ankabut is alive and well and they didn’t let me go. Is it money or title? Naturally I would like more money or a better title but it wasn’t a game changer. I am not unhappy with the organization or my boss and I must say he is good for Ankabut and we like each other. He is approachable, respects my opinion and has a good sense of humor. Do we disagree at times, of course but he will listen. In the end the CEO has to make the call and especially in this region.

I honestly believe I have done what I can for the organization and reached the goals I set when I started. I could continue doing the same thing for Ankabut but I need a new challenge. What that challenge is has not been decided but I can safely say retirement is not in my plans for another 5-7 years, if ever.

So what’s next? That is indeed the question that I am still pondering. My wife and I do like the UAE and have developed a number of very good relationships with the expat and Emirati communities over the years mostly in the field of education. There is always a possibility I may be offered a position in the region by an organization with education ties that would offer more responsibility and new challenges. It’s also possible I may start or co-found a company, which focuses on a variety of educational services for the region. I have always had an entrepreneurial side to me. I co-founded The Connected Learning Network, an e-learning services company in the US back in 1999.  E-learning may an element of the company but would have a number of other services to support the education community.  I see a great deal of potential in support or outsourcing educational services. If I go that direction I will want to have a partner(s) who have similar interests.  The third option is to go back to the US and find a position, which would meet the responsibility and challenge needs. Unfortunately I don’t see that job existing near our home in Brown County Indiana. Perhaps Louisville our adopted home, Florida, Hawaii (why not), DC region or my alma mater Urbana University. We will see what the options are and make a decision then.

In the meantime these upcoming months will be busy. There are projects I need to complete which are important to Ankabut and its members.  I’ll keep you posted on where I go from here as well as writing about education in the region.