Abu Dhabi: Hundreds of British and Irish teachers are being hired to fill positions in Abu Dhabi public schools, XPRESS can reveal.
Scores of qualified teachers in the UK, Ireland and other English-speaking countries are seemingly lapping up offers to work for Abu Dhabi schools, according to recruiting agencies.
Generous package
“When you go to Abu Dhabi to teach, you will be compensated generously for your hard work and will be supported in reducing the hassle of moving by the Abu Dhabi Education Council. Not only are your flights provided in full (for yourself, plus your spouse and up to three dependents if applicable) but upon arrival you will receive a settlement allowance to put towards furniture and appliances for your new home,” read an advertisement on a recruiting website in Canada.
“We will be providing several hundreds of teachers for ADEC. The first set of teachers will arrive in Abu Dhabi by August. The recruiting process is already underway,” Ben Glickman, CEO of Footprints Recruiting, Canada, told XPRESS over the phone.
“Next year, the new school models (NSM) will progress to Grade 6 and ADEC will recruit sufficient teachers to support delivery of instruction in English, Science, and Math for Grade 6 students. EMT’s (English medium teachers) are being recruited from North America, South Africa, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and the GCC.
“ADEC has contracted a number of recruiting agencies to work closely with Personnel Services; Recruitment and Staffing for the recruitment of EMT’s,” according to ADEC’s School Operations
Glickman said: “We have received many applications and there is a good number of teachers who are willing to take up jobs in Abu Dhabi as the job market here [Canada] is drying up. Many are struggling to get a permanent position here or to get posted in urban areas, he added.
Footprints is one of the agencies ADEC has partnered with to hire foreign teachers.
Government school students will be taught core subjects like Math and Science in English as per the NSM and hence the need to staff public schools with so many foreign teachers.
Tax-free pay-cheques that come with additional benefits including housing allowances, paid holidays and return tickets are major attractions for teachers who are looking for better opportunities in the Middle East.
ADEC offers monthly salaries in the range of $3,300 (Dh12,120) to $5,500 to teachers holding Qualified Teachers Status with at least a year’s experience in teaching. A settlement benefit of Dh20,000 and other allowances are also part of the package.
“It makes sense as they have to take at least 20 per cent if not more in tax cuts here. Also, a one-bedroom apartment will cost anything between $30,000 to $40,000 a year, which is paid for in Abu Dhabi,” said Glickman.
Big challenge
Despite attractions of a plum job, recruiters say it is still a challenge to recruit 2,000 teachers.
ADEC, however, said the number is inaccurate, without confirming the number of teachers they are looking to recruit.
“It is a big challenge for us. Even with all recruiting agencies combined, it is still a big number to achieve,” said Glickman.
One of the reasons he said is the difficulty for teachers to get back into government service once they return home. Candidates are chosen based on impression interviews that test their perceptions and attitudes of living in a foreign country and their understanding of the culture and traditions of the UAE.
