AL JAZEERA ACADEMY - A BIG NO NO!!!

Good you spoke up at last but dont u think u got late on that.
Cheers

I wish you all the best in your new job , i hope your words reach people in charge and i wish we can talk about alll places who has narrow minded people.

Thank you very much guys for all your well wishes and advice - something I definitely needed after being kicked in the teeth by this horrible man and his crooked ways of running an establishment.

Wizmotr - I certainly will be contacting the IB people. I have already got the ball rolling in other areas, but don't want to give away too much! This spiteful man is definitely in for legitimate surprises from a few people who could just axe his little "gold mine" that he has been building up over the past 4 years! I daren't say too much or it wont be a surprise, and dont we all just love surprises.

Please, help me persue this by spreading the word. I have been very honest in my posts about AJA and have absolutely no reason to lie about anything. Everything I have stated, I can justify (so can a few others!). Like I mentioned in the GUlf newspaper - AJA is run like a business and parents and children are treated like customers (without the good service of course!) Tell people about the neglect of good quality teaching (due to lack of resources/funds (huh?? Isnt AJA one of the most expensive schools in DOha???), bad learning and lacke of facilities. Encourage them to spend their hard earned cash at a school where they will get value for money! Send them to a school where their children will be loved, cared for and given the best possible opportunities - and not just taken for a ride at a rather expensive price!

Keep this going please.......

When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.

Hope you are enjoying the time at home....

Good luck for Tuesday....

Hope you have packed your winter woolies...

Kisses... and miss you stax

X

JackMohan2007 - the school is in fact described as a school with a motto "Tradition of Excellence" which makes majority of the staff members chuckle! Words like integrity, honesty, caring etc describe the ethos of Al Jazeera, however I would argue that these aren't completely understood and practised by the Senior Management or the lying director Ken.

It is a very expensive school - The Year 5s I taught were paying Qr24 000 per annum which is exactly why I pleaded my case about sufficient water, shade and working toilets!

Al Jazeera is owned, (well at least thats what the lying cheating director tells his staff) by Sheika Noor.
The joke about all of this is that Sheika Noor actually removed her three children from Al Jazeera Academy in November and put them into a different International school.

The Sheika's reasons for removing her children, as quoted by the very incompetent Deputy Head teacher of the Primary school (in a staff meeting): "The Sheika feels that the standard of education is not good enough and that she is very unhappy with the way we as a staff are doing things. We all need to pull up our socks!" As you can imagine, staff were in uproar and gave her a piece of their minds. She wouldnt accept any of it! I dont know about you, but I definitely wouldn't want my children to attend a school that is not even good enough for the owner's children!!!!

Regarding who the school caters for, well.....I was told at my interview that there were many expat children and if you look closely in all of the AJA books i.e very pretentious YEAR BOOK, adverts in main foyer and Marabah books - you will notice how they always seem to somewhat have a very blonde or quite obvious non-arab children posing for pics advertising the school. This is all a ploy to con once again, poor innocent victims into enrolling their kids into AJA. I would go as far as saying that the expat community is appox less than 10%. They do however advertise and provide so called "expat classes", which really are only the same as the other classes other than all 4 or 5 expatriates from the same year group are put together in the same class - level of work, teaching and expectations are all EXACTLY the same as the arab classes!

Oh, how lucky I am to be able to speak openly about this terrible school. For seven months I bit my tongue and daren't utter a negative word in fear of being sacked. Its a completely different ball game now - I can say what I like about the lying director Ken and his little side kicks. As long as I tell the truth and can substantiate everything I say ey!

Teach you children well - don't send them to AJA!

When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.

Sorry Krok but you are wrong, problem of eviloops is not her own problem , it is problem of alot of people in AJA and other learning instute ( not all of them ) in Doha , I know staff from AJA and i have been in many other places , and again same problem , narrow mainded people in managment , school is place to get money at first stage , and many other problems.

She didn't mention her colleagues ( as teacher ), she doesn't need alot of experience to be encourge , alot of staff in AJA has same problems but they can live with it or they have to

Krok - fair enough. You are entitiled to voice your opinion of AJA as I did. However, I would like to challenge what you have said.

All of the things I have mentioned i.e. insufficient shaded areas, lack of drinking water facilities, no tissues in classrooms, textbooks which were left in a storeroom for two months before being handed out, fourth or was it sixth timetable which still is in progress of being sorted so lets make it seventh, no objectives in Primary for Literacy and Numeracy, Primary staff having to pay for their own training materials to implement the new PYP-programme......the list goes on.

Do you dispute any of this?

When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.

If part of the school is half as bad as explained, then I would run away from the whole place. You can't have half a good school, either it is good as a whole or it needs new leadership.

A teacher with 5 years experience may be a better judge of good and bad than a more experienced teacher that is riding their time

Dear eviloops,

Reading all your comments, make me laugh myself! I am a student at Al Jazeera Academy, do you feel good spreading all these lies and rumours.

At Al Jazeera Academy we are taught with graded criteria and for assessments we do tests and exams, our director may not be the best but he does his job the best he can.

Accusing AJA by telling the community of QL that kids and students don't have access to food, water or even a toilet(haha) Al Jazeera have one of the most sophisticated school cafeterias in Qatar.

Honestly who ever you are, I think you have a mental disorder or ADD, you seem to be looking for attention or a new hobby of not just accusing the school but also people.

Everyone as first hand and present experience I can definetly tell you that "eviloops" is feeding you with BULLSHIT (excuse my french) and your eating it.

Thank you very much!

Yip, it is all true. My opinions of AJA are all based on what I experienced in the Primary Section and are my opinions. I certainly cannot utter a bad word about the ELC as the working environment appears to be very good as is the management there. I know for a fact that the secondary school has its own issues to worry about - I mean staff morale is much much lower than in primary. The timetable is still not up and running properly. I have seen with my very own eyes, how children are being taught in a "self-made classroom" i.e. a corridor has been partitioned off and desks and chair have been put in the cornered off section to create a classroom. As I have never taught in the secondary section doesn't mean to say that I couldn't help but notice this!So yes, I think I am entitled to comment on the Secondary school.

I would like to reitterate what I challenge Krok to. Could you please confirm whether I am making up the above statements by answering the following questions? Im very sure that potential parents of children in AJA will be able to make up their own mind about whether AJA is a good school for their child/ren or not, once you have answered these:

* What formal assessments does AJA use in Primary?
* How are these formal assessments recorded and tracked in order to determine progress/standards in the Primary?
* What scheme of work/objectives etc are being used in the Primary?
* What children records were passed on about students to their new teachers at the beginning of the academic year?
* Were the girl's toilets on the second floor out of order from the end of the Autumn term, until the beginning of February in the Primary?
* Do the children pay Qr2 for bottled water as the water facilities are limited due to broken water fountains?
* Are tissues supplied for children to use in the classrooms?
* Did staff have to pay for their own training material during the very recent PYP-programme induction?
* Are there any outside toilets for the children to use during playtime? If not, are children allowed to enter the school building during playtime in order to use the inside toilets?
* Is there sufficient display material readily available i.e. display paper, coloured card, paper, borders for the teachers to display the childrens work?
* Does the Primary section have suffient everyday teaching materials like pva-glue, ready mix paints etc for staff to use with their classes? If not, how can these be purchases/ordered?
* Are there sufficient text books i.e 1 book between 2 in the primary section?

These were not "extravagent" things I requested when working at AJA - these were basic everyday resources and materials which every school needs to have in order to teach, learn and assess. AJA really could not provide these basic requests which to me is absolutely disguisting. Fee paying children are denied what they should be entitled to: paint, paper, resource books etc and the poor teachers create wonders with the little they have!

I would like to stress that the teaching staff of AJA are hard working and prepared to walk the extra mile. What I am portraying here is by no means a reflection on the teachers of AJA, it is purely based on the day-to-day runnings of a school which I feel is doing unjust to its children, parents and staff.Excuse me for saying this, but is the running of AJA not soley in the hands of its managers and most importantly its director? Thats where the finger is pointing and not anywhere else.

And as for Robo_hash: Im sure you are very happy at AJA (you are obviously in the secondary section, I taught in the Primary!)The mentioning of being deprived of food never happend so no need to argue that one. Yes, the water fountains in primary are broken and have been since before September 2006 and yes, the little girls in my class will confirm that they had to use the Junior school's toilets as theirs were broken - you might want to talk to some of the girls in the Senior primary section to find out for yourself. In the secondary I am sure that tests and assessments are undertaking, however, in the Primary no formal assessments took place.
When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.

Krok - I queried the academic side of things with the Deputy of the Primary (as she also happens to be the so called "Curriculum Coordinator" - She willingly led me to believe that something was going to be done and convinced me that she was putting in 110% to ensure that an up and running curriculum would be put in place asap - sadly it is now 7 months down the line and there is STILL NO curriculum/objectives......I have been to the Head of the Primary (probably about three times a week with various concerns) only to be wiped off........I have ALSO been to the Director himself on two occasions where I spent over two hours discussion issues and areas of concern with him.

I most certainly have followed the correct channels regarding hierachy. I have always done so and am proud to say this. By no means did I just accept all these problems at AJA - I always queried and questioned things in hope that I could inform imporvements in standards.

I soon realised that very little was being done about the concerns I had, which merely fuelled my fire. I virtually emailed the Primary Head on a daily bases with issues, which like I said before were just brushed aside. There alwasy seemed to be excuses as to why things didnt work properly, or would be promised that something would be done about it tomorrow.....sadly tomorrow never came! I have myself, also walked the extra mile to try help out i.e covering afterschool clubs for other staff who were preoccupied with jobs which should have been done by the managemen, helping form a "Behaviour commity" to help set up a behaviour policy etc, so there should have been no excuses about not having sufficient support or keen workers to help raise standards by addressing these very obvious issues.

Like I've stated from the very beginning of time.....my issues with AJA are all based on TERRIBLE management, lack of communication/initiative and all of this most certainly falls directly on the Director himself.

I know that my efforts haven't been invane as what Ive stated has already deterred potential new primary staff members from accepting postions at AJA as they feel they couldn't work at a school where they are lied to and where there are such limited support and resources to work with.

I will take on board what you have said about being critical - thanks.

The timetable dillema is by no means resolved! I was told on Tuesday by one of the secondary staff members that they were still unsure about which classes they were teaching, at what time and at which venue.......timetables are still not up and running and I do believe it is tt nr 6 now!
I also walked past the "corridor-classroom" on Monday last week - it too is still there.

When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.

This seems a very interesting thread. I haven't come across one like this for months in QL.Go on ladies and gents, let's hear from all sides. I hope someone from AJA management is also reading this thread. Its a very relevant subject for the users of QL as a whole.

Ahhhh, look what I've just come across on the Qatar Living Website.......Robo_hash is singing a different tune.....this is his response to a QL member (Dell1), who was requesting information on AJA:
**********************************************
Submitted by robo_hash on Sat, 03/03/2007 - 8:21am.
I used to study at Al Jazeera Academy last year, but i left it because of the fact that AJA has students that are rude and take everything for granted...

If you want to take the job there my advise is don't because youll jus want to leave it after working their for two weeks..

Email me if you want more information at robo_hash[AT]hotmail.com

*********************************************

I am a little confused Robo_hash. Which one is it? Do you think teachers should accept jobs there or not? You posted about how I was lying and that AJA is such a wonderful place - if so, then why are you discouraging DELL1 to accept a post there??????? And you have the cheek to accuse me of being ADHD!!! Pot calling kettle black I think!

When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.

Eviloops, either your reading ability is a little weak, or you are a great manipulator of words! (Probably both)
Robo-hash was criticising some of the PUPILS, NOT the lack of facilities, director, teachers, toilets etc etc. Are you still smirking at your supposed detective work? So self satisfied you had to submit the message twice??

You say I haven't answered your questions....
Let me quote, since you didn't get it the first time:
"Unlike you, I cannot claim to know everything that's going on in all three schools (sec,prim & ELC), so I'll leave someone else to confirm or deny your accusations."
However, like you I also have friends in the sec school, AND I have also been there, and I can state quite categorically that the classrooms and timetable WERE SORTED OUT MONTHS AGO. The "sec staff member" you quoted is either a figment of your imagination or someone who is on very powerful medication. It makes my blood boil that people can tell such OUTRIGHT LIES. Did you bother asking him/her what the heck (s)he's doing at school then?? Such a lost soul doesn't belong at AJA, where everyone else knows exactly who they are teaching, as well as when and where, and turn up with well prepared lessons!

This is turning into a "I said, you said" situation, and unfortunately it seems as if most of the readers are choosing to believe all the negative points. Just keep one thing in mind - which I have mentioned before - EVERY school has rude kids, people you don't get along with, frustrating situations, etc. I know of two other schools in Doha which also have problems, but I don't see THEIR staff members airing the schools dirty laundry in the media. Three of AJA's teachers have told me that this school is MUCH better than the one they were at before. I don't deny there are staff who are unhappy, but there will always be a MINORITY who finds it easier to criticise than to get to work and do their best, even when the circumstances are not ideal. If you find a school where everyone is satisfied ... you've found paradise!

As I thought, KROK is too much of a coward to put her face to her name!

I guess I wasn't telling lies or being inconsistent in what I was saying about the disgraceful way Al Jazeera Academy is run after all!

Krok, you were very quick to knock what I had to say about AJA, yet very slow to substantiate how you were able to say what you did!Typical WHAAAAAAAA!

You really must be a little side kick to you-know-who or desperate to hang onto your very insecure job as an ill-treated staff member at AJA. Probably both knowing how the corrupt system works there. Keep your eye on the newspapers as well. Some interesting reading should be coming Doha's way.

When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.

Thank you for confirming my hunch that eviloops suffers for Attention Definition Disorder (ADD) she is a attention seeker and believes that everyone out there is planning a coupe to get her.

You are a shame to the human society and an embarassment to your family eviloops, go home and spend some time with your husband and kids, that is if your husband hasn't divorced you already!

ADD has nothing to do with seeking attention.

Why are you all attacking her? She's entitled to her opinion based on her own experience.

As to the Kuwait thread in the TES section, I don't see any criticism of the Kuwait schools. She is not ranting about other schools in the middle east. She is merely supporting a person who is posting their warnings about working in the Kuwait school system. What's wrong with that? I fully support anyone to share their experiences with regards to their working environment. People doing their research regarding a position within a certain company will always seek opinions from others and it's good to have them. With that said, people should seek more than one opinion before making up their minds. I wouldn't make a decision based on just one person's opinion, unless I knew that person very well.

In addition, while her posts in the TES kuwait thread gave hints of information regarding her experience in Doha, she was also very clear in stating that while she had a bad experience, other teachers at the same school had a good experience. I think that's pretty fair.

Regardless of what people think, one this is clear: conduct a thorough investigation of the schools that you plan to send your children to. Ask all sorts of question regarding the curriculum, facilities, availability of books for each student, etc, etc, etc. If it appears that the supervisor is vague about an issue or evading your question, press for an answer. For those parents who have children already enrolled in school, ask to see their books, homework, etc. Ask them about what their day is like in school.

Eviloops is posting freely because she does not have to fear a backlash from AJA. It has been hinted in posts from other people that there are issues with AJA. To me, that's a big red flag. If I had children, I'd certainly be asking lots of questions.

I am a parent of Al Jazeera students and I support what Eviloops is saying. As I have noted previously in other school topics, Al Jazeera has been a lot of trouble for us. The primary school seems fine for quiet little girls who like to sit in a chair and do busy work for 45 minutes. Many children are not suited to that, especially boys. I expect experienced and trained teachers to know and understand how to deal with different learning styles and personalities. I haven't found that at AJA. I find myself being a referee between my son and his teacher practically every other day. The constant state of conflict is extremely unhelpful for learning.

Then there is the question of bullies. Bullies with family connections, I should say. Violent, agressive behavior that continues unchecked because the family has the right name. Some teachers (and administrators) also exhibit bullying behavior. What a great idea: teach kids that bullying is unacceptable, and then act like a bully toward students. Brilliant.

My child in the secondary school had 3 Spanish teachers and 2 math teachers by the beginning of second term. Not suprisingly, she struggled in both classes. Another secondary parent also complained to me about the high turnover of teachers. The parents of two of my son's friends are taking their sons to other schools in the fall. They are just as unhappy.

I am now in position of trying to find another school for the fall but am finding that every school I call says their enrollment is full for the fall. I find that hard to believe since people seem to be constantly coming and going in Doha. I have the sickening feeling my kids will be stuck at AJA another year or going to the Cedar Tutoring Centre...

Eviloops you are entertaining but get over the fact that you are no longer in Doha at Al Jazeera Academy. Doha isn't heaven, it isn't hell it an interesting place to pass time if you are so inclined.

A hundred years from now who will give 2 piles of dog poo about Al Jazeera Academy???????????????