Education matters

It’s an interesting phenomenon in Bahrain but I have begun to notice after a few years as a head teacher here that there appears to be a teaching circuit that incorporates all of the British curricula international schools in the kingdom.

Let me explain, it is very common for teachers who have worked at one of these schools to end up within one or two years working in another similar school such is the nature of the cycle. Now that isn’t that uncommon as Bahrain is quite a transient place, but it becomes surprising when you consider the quality of some of these teachers who seem to be employed just because they are here and they have a license to work in schools.

All effective schools have a commonality with regard to quality. Good schools will put quality above all else and will ensure that all students and families receive the best possible attention. 

This undoubtedly can be equated to the staff they employ as good recruitment is the key to effective school practice. So, if this is the case, why are these teachers flitting between schools so frequently, how is it so seemingly easy for them to do so and why are schools taking them on board in the first place knowing that they have such a fleeting track record of commitment to what is one of the most important jobs in the world?

One of the things that I look for constantly when scrutinising CVs is the candidates previous work history. If they have flitted from one school to another it rings alarm bells as it demonstrates that they are either not committed to the schools that have employed them, there is a problem with their practice that has meant the school has discharged them or they are generally just drifting from job to job using their teaching certificate as a golden ticket. 

Such candidates stand out for all the wrong reasons.

So once again, all of this begs the question, why do schools in Bahrain see this obvious teaching circuit as acceptable? 

One reason I believe might be the case is economic. Western-trained teachers who are already on the island will invariably not require a visa or accommodation meaning that they are cheaper to employ than teachers being flown from overseas.

The second reason, I believe, tends to be timing. At this time of year sometimes newly-appointed teachers, who promised they would turn up, don’t, leaving gaps that urgently need to be filled. 

This is perfect for the opportunist teacher on the island with a golden ticket and a little bit of knowledge about education. 

I’m sure they actually sit outside schools waiting to hear about vacancies and then in they charge, like saviours, to fill the teaching place, thwart a panic and give children another year of mediocre education.

I think that the worst thing of all about this phenomenon is that sometimes these lacklustre opportunist teachers believe that they have an elevated position of insider knowledge. 

I heard a typical example of this recently when at an evening meal, one such teacher took great pride in telling a parent at the table that the school her son attended was ‘awful’ and that he would be far better attending a different school. 

Apparently, to make matters even worse, after she had given her damning opinion, she touched her nose and said that ‘she had her sources’.  It sounds to me like she’d probably had too much sauce.

A professional teacher does not talk outside of school, nor do they approach parents about such things and they certainly don’t presume to have any level of authority in terms of education when they have happily flounced between all of the schools on the island. 

These kinds of people are poisonous and I urge schools in Bahrain to give serious consideration to track records before giving teachers like these yet another opportunity to work in their schools to the benefit of no one … but themselves.