Expat Community > Saudi Arabia

respetter
Joined 2008
Posts: 21

SCHOOLS Eastern Province

14 years ago

This is a message for any European, USA, Canada or UK residents thinking of moving to the Eastern Province of KSA with there kids (Khobar, Dhahran, Dammam, or Jubail). The schools they offer here are USA and UK curriculum, BUT they are international curriculum and certainly not up to par with the western world. Having lived here for 14 years I have tryed to look into the reason for the sever lack of academic structure. The staff attitudes are definatley different to those in the UK, Europe and the USA. Administration run things ALOT different to schools back home. Rules and regulations in school are , (to put it mildly) "unacceptable". Many actions that go on throughout school here would be looked upon in the western world as misconduct. Academically you can expect your child to be at the lower level of acheivement for there key stage grade at the end of a school year. Moving back to the western world after schooling here will prove, "difficult" to your child. Moving here from the western world will give your child the opportunity to test and be moved up a grade due to the academic expectations at each grade level... BE VERY CAREFULL... A childs education is the foundation of their future... Ask yourself if there are other options...? I would NEVER do it again, no matter how big the TAX FREE salary we were offered. Oh, and yes my husband feels the same...!!! From my own teaching experience back home, I know alot of teachers would be mortified at the education here (Eastern Province) Cant speak for Jeddah or Riyad.. Consider living in Dhahran or Dammam and shooling your kids in Bahrain. Fantastic oportunities for children both USA and UK currculums, great ethics and administrative/classroom management. No need for bahrain residency. If you are UK or USA resident you have a 28 period allowable to be in bahrain... But if you live in KSA you can commute daily so no need to worry. Also school fees in bahrain are cheaper than KSA... I guess there is no competition in KSA thats why the schools are still open... Oh, and UK, USA, Canadian kids will be the MINORITY when it comes to nationality ratio's in any of the eastern province schools...

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