'Not all Dubai teachers receive low pay'

Dubai: Working as a teacher does not always mean low pay. In fact some teachers in the UAE earn salaries that many would consider desirable.

Teachers who work in schools that offer international curriculum (International Baccalaureate, British and American) — especially those who are recruited from abroad — commonly receive salaries that are higher than in schools that offer other curriculums.

Clive Pierrepont, Director of Communications at Taaleem who said teachers under Taaleem’s jurisdiction receive annual packages worth Dh350,000, believes paying well is important to attract the best of the best.

“There is a worldwide shortage of teachers. We compete in a global market to attract and retain the very best of them, with the right experience, a proven track record and specific skills. To employ the very top teaching talent we have to offer highly competitive rates of pay and benefits. Seventy to eighty per cent of our schools’ budget is usually allocated to staffing,” he said.

Pierrepont said salaries of regular teachers without responsibilities range from Dh10,000 to Dh15,000 in schools under Taaleem’s jurisdiction, while teaching assistants’ salaries range between Dh5,000 and Dh7,000.

A survey of 361 teachers in the UAE by Payscale.com found that secondary school teachers can receive up to Dh18,677 a month, an elementary school teacher can receive up to Dh16,850 a month while a kindergarten teacher can receive up to Dh9,961 a month (excluding bonuses).

Mariam Shaheen, who became an English teacher at an American curriculum school after graduating from the American University of Sharjah with a mass communication degree, said she earns more than most of her friends who work in the media and PR sector.

“I earn Dh13,000 a month, while most of my friends who are fresh graduates like me started out with salaries between Dh8,000 and Dh9,000. Everyone was shocked because they thought teachers get low pay.”

In addition to pay, some teachers, especially those who come from abroad, consider taxes and even weather conditions before working the UAE. “I was recruited from Ireland by a prestigious private school in Sharjah directly after graduating from university. I was offered accommodation as well as a Dh13,000 salary. This is very good when compared with Ireland because over there most of the money earned will go to taxes,” said one teacher who did not want to be named.

Another teacher, from a UK curriculum school in Dubai, said she earns around Dh12,000, excluding housing benefits.

“I was recruited from the UK, and to be able to start a new life here, schools here must offer a good salary plus housing benefits to attract teachers from abroad. In addition to the good salary I decided to move to Dubai because they do not have taxes and it is summer all year round.”