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Comments: I just read the last review and would agree 100%. I’m amazed it is still operating with US educational standards approval. The previous review was exactly my experience coming from Australia. Locals were extremely friendly and dearly wanted the best education for their children, but the administration was profit bound and after a while we were shunted from excellent accommodation to live above the library until our time expired. We were banned from traveling during holiday periods (passports not returned). Some teachers from Lebanon etc had not seen family for over 12 months – one very competent teacher had not seen his new born daughter for the 12 months she had been alive. Complete con!

Comments: This school is a classic bait and switch. Parade blonde western teacher in front of parents, get signed contract, after 3 months parents are obligated to pay full years tuition by Saudi law, tick off teachers so they leave and can be replaced by local hire at 1/2 price, repeat annually. Students made us aware of this practice right before we left. Their parents usually Arabic Nationals and in lower to middle management had little choice since they didn’t want Saudi Schools and couldn’t afford the American School.

Things changed daily about the school, rules, classroom locations, walls went up and came down, teaching assignments, policies, etc. without warning. Library with nothing but a globe and $1 Classics paperbacks. The second headmaster lasted 10 days! The first headmaster was fired after the hiring season. It is beyond explanation.

The school was survivable for a year until they did not pay as promised in January. We owed December salary, signing bonus, Dept. Chair Stipend for 1st semester and all reimbursements had finally been processed (medical testing -school supplies). Excuses and refusals were made. In the end they refused to pay the reimbursements because the 1st headmaster had authorized them, refused the stipend because weekly reports were not filed. Many deductions were also taken for things such as failing to sign a form in the office. Feeling screwed out of about $3000+ USD and feeling that we would get screwed out of summer pay, we quit. We were not allowed to leave the country. In Saudi your employer must apply and give permission for you to leave the country. The embassies are not allowed to help you get an exit visa on your own. Finally after 10 days we were told that if we paid back all recruiting, tickets, etc. we would be able to get the exit visa!

We were forced to charge our Visa $6000 at the school owner’s other place of business. The next day we were given 20 minutes notice to leave for our flight to Dubai. It was a total nightmare that I still think about. By the end of the year 5 out of 6 overseas hires had left. If this school still exists don’t even consider it. All five of us that left wrote all English-speaking embassies warning prospective teachers and due to what happened, this school was no longer allowed to recruit at the big job fairs. It is the worst of the worst.