Oman Teachers Admin Guide 2014

8/17/2019 Oman Teachers Admin Guide 2014

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/oman-teachers-admin-guide-2014 1/36

Oman Teaching Centre Admin Handbook

Teachers Admin Guide

BC OmanTeachers’ Admin Guide2014




Page 2 of 36

Welcome to Oman!

We hope that you enjoy working with us and living in Oman.

This Admin Guide is intended to provide you with some basic information about working for the BritishCouncil Muscat and living in Oman. It also gives general guidance on how the Teaching Centre

operates, but for more detailed information on teaching related matters, however, please see theseparate Academic Handbook for Teachers.

!"#$%#$&

The British Council .................................................................................................................... 3

The British Council Oman ......................................................................................................... 6

The Teaching Centre .......................................................................................................................................... 6

Teaching and Administration .................................................................................................... 8

Key People (and their main responsibilities) ....................................................................................................... 8

Courses ............................................................................................................................................................... 9

Teaching - (Please also refer to the Academic Handbook for Teachers for full details) .................................. 10

Performance Management ............................................................................................................................... 11

Training and Professional Development ........................................................................................................... 12

Appendix: Useful Links to Key Documents ...................................................................................................... 15

Personal Administration .......................................................................................................... 16

Terms and Conditions of Service ...................................................................................................................... 16

Arriving at post .................................................................................................................................................. 19

Accommodation ................................................................................................................................................ 21

Setting Up Home ............................................................................................................................................... 24

Oman ...................................................................................................................................... 25

General living costs & conditions ...................................................................................................................... 29

Shopping and Eating Out .................................................................................................................................. 30

Entertainment .................................................................................................................................................... 31

Transport and Travel ......................................................................................................................................... 33

Health ................................................................................................................................................................ 35

This version was last updated in October 2014, and whilst the information was accurate at time of

writing, specific details and entitlements are subject to change.




Page 3 of 36

The British CouncilThe British Council creates international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countriesand builds trust between them worldwide. It divides its work into three main areas:

Arts - New ways of connecting with and understanding each other through the arts.

English - More widespread and better quality teaching, learning and assessment of Englishworldwide.Education and society - Enhanced UK leadership of, and shared learning from, international

education. Societies whose young people, citizens and institutions contribute to and benefit from amore inclusive, open and prosperous world.

You can learn more about the British Council on the About us site. This includes information on our

core areas of work, where we work and our corporate plan (PDF).

Working at the British Council, you should make sure that you are familiar with our Global

Policies and ask your line manager if you are unclear about any aspect of this. These policies include

Heath and Safety, Security and our Code of Conduct. They set the standards which are expected ofstaff and other individuals working on British Council premises, as well as partners of and suppliers to

the British Council. Below you will find some useful hyperlinks which provide more information about

the organisation:

About us

Global Policies

Code of Conduct

Values | Behaviours

Where we work

HR policies (Essential HR)

IT policies and standards

Corporate fact sheets

In terms of English, the strategic aims of the British Council globally (according to the Corporate Plan

2013-15) are:

More widespread and better quality teaching, learning and assessment of English

worldwide.

We provide people worldwide with greater access to the life-changing opportunities that come from

learning English and gaining valuable UK qualifications.

We will:• improve the quality of English teaching in schools worldwide, supporting effective English

language teaching policy and English teacher development, in collaboration with educationministries and donors

• support the English language needs of students and teachers in international further and highereducation systems• expand our range of self-access English language learning products offered through the internetand mobile technology, as well as through print and broadcast media

• invest in and expand our global network of high quality English teaching centres• through our teaching network and self-access learning, increase the number of people learning

English with us by 27 per cent over two years• continue to develop our award winning digital learning content, using the UK’s vibrant culture asan aid to language learning• continue to promote the UK as an English language learning destination • increase access toeffective English assessment, to support the learning of English worldwide

• give greater access worldwide to UK school and professional qualifications• overall, increase the number of people taking UK qualifications with us by 50 per cent

• continue to invest in our high-performing British Council bilingual, bicultural primary andsecondary school in Madrid.






Page 5 of 36




Page 6 of 36

The British Council Oman

The British Council has been working in Oman since 1972 and in its current premises since 1984.

It enjoys an excellent reputation among Omanis and this, along with its location next to the main

Sultan Qaboos highway, make it a well-known landmark in Muscat.

The centre is very active in the Arts and in Education, as well as delivering thousands of exams every

year (with IELTS being the most popular, of course). We also provide an attestation service for UKqualifications. However, the centre is best known for its English courses.

The Teaching Centre typically runs four academic terms of 8 weeks’ duration between Septemberand May for both Adults and Young Learners. In the summer, we run a very popular Summer Schoolfor Young Learners as well as regular Adult courses in the evenings.

In a typical term, we might expect to have around 550 students on the General English courses andaround 50 on Business English courses. There are usually over 100 students per term that take the

shorter IELTS prep courses with us too.

A good Young Learner term will see over 250 students studying with us once a week on Saturday.Our Corporate Training work has taken off in the last few years and we can sometimes be running up

to 50 hours per week of corporate contract work, most of which is done off-site.

Student numbers have grown steadily in recent years and the centre will soon be operating at close tocapacity on the current business model.

The Teaching Centre

Location

The Council is centrally located in Madinat al Sultan Qaboos on a road next to the Sultan Qabooshighway. The teaching centre is a detached two storey building with 13 classrooms.

The academic/teaching team is made up of a Deputy Teaching Centre Manager (DTCM), three

Academic Managers (ST), two Coordinators (ICT & ELTPN), about 20 full-time teachers and 6 part-time/hourly-paid teachers. Teachers are employed either on mobile fixed-term or local indefinitecontracts.

The Students

Well over 80% of our students are Omanis, with the rest being made up of a range of ex-patnationalities including South and East Asians, Europeans and even some Latin Americans.

Adult students are aged 18 and up and we have a good range of ages who attend. Most students

(60%+) are sponsored by their companies and others are private individuals.

Young learners are aged 7 to 17 and we split them into four different age-groups:

Elementary 7-9Lower Secondary 10-12Secondary 13-14

Upper Secondary 15-17




Page 7 of 36

The Premises

The centre is open six days a week, Saturday to Thursday. The weekend here is on Friday andSaturday but we are open for young learner classes on Saturday mornings. Adult classes are either

two or three hours long and start at around 14:00 with the last classes finishing at 21:00 (except inRamadan, when classes can go on later). On Saturdays, YL classes start at 08:30 and finish at 15:00.

Intensive courses catering for children run in the summer months from June to August, and Adultcourses can be either regular or intensive in the summer months.

All classrooms are equipped with an interactive whiteboard (IWB) and a computer. Media is usually

played through the IWB, but we also have cassette players available. New teachers are trained in theuse of this technology as part of their induction, and through the INSETT programme.

Upstairs we have an admin office which is for project staff, resources team, andmanagement (including the TC management team). Downstairs, there is another admin

office for the Exams team, Registration team, and the Customer Service Manager.Teachers have a separate staffroom upstairs, and there is also a separate resources

room housing all the teaching aids, materials and the photocopier. Damien, the TC

Resources assistant (pictured right), will help you with these resources, which includecoursebooks, reference books, resources books, materials files, cassette tapes, videos,related workbooks, flashcards, testing materials, photocopier, guillotine, glue, scissors, etc.

Each teacher has their own desk space for most of the year and a lockable cupboard anddrawer for storage. There are several networked computers in the teachers’ room, some of which are

on teachers desks. In busy times, such as summer, there are overflow desks and workstations thatteachers can use in the main admin office. All staff have their own e-mail address which is‘[email protected]’’. Our notice board is the back of the staffroom door anddisplays details of such things as meetings, teacher development, centre information, and timetables.

There is also a staff kitchen upstairs with sofas and a small table, a fridge, a toaster and a microwave.

Fire SafetyThis will form part of your Health and Safety induction, and all teachers must familiarize themselveswith the procedures and should seek advice/clarification on any points they are unsure of. At the

beginning of every new course teachers must explain the fire procedure to students, and must signand put the date on the register check list to show they have completed this within the first week ofterm. We aim to have drills in most terms and the teacher is responsible for ensuring that his or herclass leave the building by the correct route. The teacher must carry the register out with them andperform a head count and check in the assembly points in the car park.

Customer Services Team (CST)

The Customer Services (and Registration) team is comprised of local employees who staff the front

desk. They deal with enquiries from the public – over the counter and over the phone. They provideinformation about our courses, register students, deal with transfers and take bookings for placementtesting. Within this team, the Registrar and Assistant Registrars handle the administration of ourcourses and customers – including corporate clients.




Page 8 of 36

Teaching and Administration

(NB: Please refer to the separate Academic Handbook for full details)

Key People (and their main responsibilities)

Paul Hilder Country Director andTeaching CentreManager (TCM)

Paul is responsible for Projects, Exams, the TeachingCentre and the implementation of corporate strategyfor BC Oman.

Oliver (Noll)

Steel

Deputy Teaching

Centre Manager(DTCM).

Noll is responsible for the Teaching Centre’s

strategic, financial and operational management,which includes teacher HR and the overall AcademicProgramme.

Sally Darlington

Academic Manager,

Young Learners

Sally is responsible for the Young Learner

programme and intensive summer school courses,

teacher development, CELTA courses andadministration.

Katie Truelove Academic Manager, Adult Courses

Katie is responsible for the Adult IELTS and GeneralEnglish programmes, and syllabus and assessment

development.

Richard Frost Corporate TrainingManager

Richard is responsible for Corporate Training and forthe in-house Professional Development Workshops

and Business English courses (with Katie)

Bina Ashraf ICT co-ordinator/

teacher.

Bina provides daily operational IT support to the

Muscat office, including ICT help for teachers.

DamienFernandes

Teaching CentreResources Assistant.

Damien is responsible for all the course books andaudio material, organising registers at the beginning

of term and helping teachers to find resources.

Mohamed Azab Customer ServiceManager

Mohamed manages our Customer Serviceoperations.

Muna Al Kaaby Registrar Muna manages student registrations and finance.

Kamil Al Balushi Public Relations Officer(PRO)

Kamil deals with all visa related processes and canassist teachers with other paperwork and processesassociated with Omani requirements.

Stephen

Monteith

Country ELT Projects

Manager

Steve is responsible for working with Ministries,

promoting grant-funded and ELT related work.




Page 9 of 36

Courses

General

Our terms are 8 weeks long and, for Adults, there is a choice of patterns for students to attend. Wealso run 24hr IELTS courses over 2 weeks and 48hrs IELTS courses over 4 weeks. Young Learner

courses run on Saturday mornings and run in tandem with the Adult term.

Class size is 15 students in both Adult and Young Learner classes. Exceptions are the Business andIELTS classes, and the Junior YL classes where we try to keep numbers to 14.

Adult Courses

Around 550 adults study with us each term. The re-registration rate is around 50% with sponsoredstudents making up around two-thirds of the students.

General English CoursesGeneral English courses are 48 hours. Higher level students come for 3hrs twice a week (Mon/Wed,

Sun/Tue), and lower levels come for 2-hour classes three times a week (Sun/Tue/Thur).

We teach from Beginner to Upper-Intermediate. Lower-level bands (144 hours) are made up of threecourses (e.g. Beginner/Elementary 1, 2 and 3). From Pre-Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate, eachlevel band (192 hours) is made up of four courses (e.g. Intermediate 1, 2, 3 & 4). In terms of the CEF,

most of our students are in the A1-A2 range.

Adult courses are based on the New Cutting Edge series with the exception of Beginners who studyNew Headway Plus.

Business English Courses

These are offered on a modular basis at Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, and Upper-Intermediate

levels (4 Modules at each level). The courses are based on Market Leader (new edition).

IELTS Preparation Courses

We offer two IELTS preparation courses. The 24hr course is run over a two-week period and is forhigher level students (upper-intermediate). The 48hr course is run over four weeks and is for lowerlevel students (intermediate). Students come 4 times a week.

Young Learner Courses

YL classes take place once a week on Saturday mornings and classes are three hours long.

Therefore, YL teachers work a Saturday to Wednesday timetable pattern, with 6 hours of YL classesand 18 hours of Adult classes.

Children are placed according to both age and level. Elementary are aged 7-9, Lower Secondary 10-12, Secondary 13-14, and Upper Secondary 15-17. There are 5 levels in each age group, and eachlevel takes an Academic Year to complete (i.e. 4 terms from September to the end of May).

The course books are all recent publications, but are not the sole focus of the course, with some timespent on project work, songs and chants, stories and video/IT activities.

All Young Learners receive a report at the end of each 8-week course. At the end of the final lessoneach term there are parent consultations.

In the summer we run intensive courses in the morning where children come every day for lessons of

2.5 hours.




Page 10 of 36

Teaching - (Please also refer to the Academic Handbook for Teachers for full details)

RegistersPlease ensure that these are taken at the start of the class, and that students present are recorded asthey come in. Not only are they an auditable document which must be up-to-date (and signed daily

by the teacher), they are essential in the event of an evacuation of the building in order to check thateveryone has made it out of the building.

Letters - Students receive letters at the beginning and during the course (e.g. welcome information,re-registration dates or holiday announcements, etc.) and it is the teacher’s responsibility to ensurethat these letters go out to all their students.

CounsellingThere is one compulsory counselling session in the middle of the course, normally toward the end of

week 4. It is important that any student who is in danger of failing the course is informed duringcounselling and given advice on what areas they need to improve.

AssessmentStudents are assessed on the four skills during the course. If students perform consistently poorly,they will have to repeat the course. Coursework and attendance are also assessed and poor

attendance is penalized, i.e., if a student has several absences, they may risk having to repeat thecourse and they need to be very clear on this. They take a language test at the end of each courseand teachers then complete an excel spreadsheet before printing out reports.

Certificates - Students receive an end of level certificate if they pass all aspects of the course:continuous assessment, coursework, end of level test and attendance. The pass mark is 70%. Theyreceive records of achievement for parts 1 and 2 of a level and a record of achievement andcertificate for completing part 3.

Re-registration - This will normally take place during term time with intensive placement testingperiods at the end of term. A letter goes out to students informing them of re-registration about half

way through the term.

Absence through Sickness

A telephone call must be made to the appropriate Academic Manager as soon as sick leave becomes

necessary. When teaching adults, Katie (99373566) needs to know at 10am on the day of the class.When teaching YLs, Sally (99319629) needs to know at 7am on the day of the class. If you cannot

get in touch with an Academic Manager you should contact the DTCM (99448176). As sickness ishard to predict, please make sure your class records of work are up to date.If more than 3 consecutive working days are required, you must obtain a medical certificate from arecognised and qualified doctor. Note that all sickness is recorded and monitored and that there are

trigger points and procedures for dealing with numerous absences.

Maintenance and Repairs

Please let Damien and/or an Academic Manager know about any issues in the classroom, (e.g.classroom tape recorders that don’t function, broken furniture, etc.) that don’t work. There are reportsheets in the registers which can be left in his pigeon hole.

Any problems relating to the classroom ICT equipment should be reported to the ICT Coordinator andto the Academic Managers immediately.




Page 11 of 36

Performance Management

The British Council has an online portfolio system for the Learning and Professional Development ofTeachers. Teachers need to set developmental goals which are in line with the centre’s AcademicQuality Plan (AQP), as well as their own career development.

Every teacher has a line manager with whom they meet and discuss the aims and stages of theirportfolio in a Plan-Do-Review approach, with mid-year reviews and an end-of-year evaluation,

although conversations with line managers should be on-going as and when needed.

The online portfolio is also used to capture formal observations, as well as any other learning that theteacher experiences over the performance year, which is from April to March.

At the end, the system generates an evaluation, which is kept on record and acts as a reference for

future BC jobs.

In summary, the learning and performance management system aims to:

• Provide teachers with the opportunity and tools to increase awareness of their strengths andareas for development and ensure that teachers understand their duties and the required

standards of performance

• Support the continuing professional development of teachers and ensure that teachers areaware of developmental & career opportunities

• Ensure that the development objectives of teachers also support the overall academic qualityplans of the centre

• Ensure each teacher is provided with a reference based on real evidence of performancegiven by someone who has worked closely with them.

Stages

The academic year runs from September to August. However, the LDPM cycle will run from April toMarch. For each teacher the cycle will mean:

1. Thinking about your individual priorities and matching them to Teaching Centre priorities

2. Chatting informally to your line manager, colleagues, and students to refine your plans3. Discussing and finalising your learning plan formally online

4. Reviewing your learning plan at agreed stages and evaluating progress5. Agreeing an end-of-year evaluation and what you might do the following year.

There will also be an observation by a Senior Teacher who has received training in how to conduct

observations and is an approved observer for the centre.

Note that new teachers in post will be expected to concentrate on induction and getting to grips withthe new centre for the first 6 months. Your first full plan would be from the following April.

More information will be provided in a special training session on Performance Management in yourinduction or later.




Page 12 of 36

Training and Professional Development

The Teaching Centre Training Policy

British Council Policy on Teaching Centre training plans

The British Council is committed to investing in its staff to upgrade their professional and transferableskills. Every teaching centre should have an accessible training plan, enabling teachers to benefitfrom a wide range of training opportunities delivered through a variety of modes. To support strategicobjectives the teaching centre training plan has to fit in with the Academic Quality Plan, as well as the

overall training requirements of the country and/or region. The teaching centre training plan shouldbe communicated to all teaching staff at the beginning of the academic year to ensure teachers are

aware of centre training priorities.In Oman we are aiming to provide or exceed an average of three training days per full-time member

of teaching centre staff (pro-rata for part-time). As well as DELTA and YL extension, this includesINSETT and online training, and other developmental activities such as Child Protection, Health and

Safety, Customer care, Team-building, PMPD, Equal Opportunities, Conference attendance, etc.

In-service teacher training (INSETT)

What?The benefits of these sessions are that they offer you new ideas to use in the classroom and theopportunity to share knowledge with colleagues. Themes and sessions for INSETT training in Oman

should contribute to the aims of the AQP (Academic Quality Plan), and respond to the profile of itsteaching staff. A training needs analysis will be conducted annually to ascertain what needs and

preferences current teaching staff hold. As we aim to keep the sessions as practically useful aspossible, your input and feedback on the INSETT programme is crucial for its effectiveness.

Who? Although Sally and the other Academic Managers may publish and lead on the INSETT schedule, you

may wish to give some sessions yourself, especially if you are interested in moving into Teacher

Training. Another alternative is to work with colleagues in peer support groups researching and tryingout new approaches and ideas in the classroom and then feeding back to one another on theirsuccess in workshops. This can be captured in your performance portfolio.

When?INSETT for Oman teachers is currently held on Wednesday afternoons at 1pm. Attendance, wherepossible, at these sessions is a requirement for teaching staff.

In-House Young Learner TrainingThis will largely take place through regular INSET sessions programmed through the year andaccording to needs. Total number of hours of training on YLs will total approximately 6 hours through

the year.

Exams TrainingExaminer training, if it happens, will take place in teachers’ own time but is offered free of charge to

teachers and can lead to paid examining work. Some later coordination training may be reimbursed. As well as profiting pedagogically from the examiner standardisations, teachers will also benefit from

an enhanced professional profile and greater career options – not to mention extra income.

British Council coursesIn addition to INSETT, the British Council has a number of resources available to teachers for theirprofessional and transferable skills development. Some of these are face-to-face courses and others

are excellent self-access materials for self-development. You can see what’s available on theLearning and Development Framework Intranet pages. If you wish to attend any of the courses, orfind out more about the self-access possibilities, please speak with your line manager.




Page 13 of 36

TEFL qualifications - DELTA, CELTYL, and others.

One of the aspirations of the British Council is to support as many of its teachers as possible towardsachieving TEFL-Q status. To this end, funding is available in Oman and centrally for teachers wishing

to study for a Diploma. BC Oman budgets for two teachers each year to study the Distance DELTA,which is the preferred qualification. However, funding can be considered for the Trinity Diploma as

well.The Distance DELTA is a unique programme for experienced English Language Teaching (ELT)

professionals who wish to upgrade their qualifications and are keen to develop their teaching skills.Developed by IH London and the BC, the programme prepares experienced teachers for the

Cambridge Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults (DELTA).BC Oman can contribute funds for up to two teachers on the DELTA (or Trinity Dip). Should there bemore than two candidates, an application process will be followed. The British Council Oman will pay:

! 80% Course and Orientation CourseFees

! Economy flights to the orientation

course (Condition = agreed location, dates androute)! 15 nights’ accommodation for OC

(Condition = prior agreement required for bestvalue)! Cover for lessons during absence atorientation course and during exams! 100% Exam fees and external assessorcosts! and will provide 10 days’ leave toattend the Orientation course or face-to-facecomponent (Trinity).

Successful applicants will pay:

! 20% of all Course and Orientation fees! 100% of subsistence during the

Orientation course, or face-to-face component

(Trinity)! Any other costs associated with thecourse (e.g. postage costs for sending

documents and files)! Any costs for re-sits of the exam

Candidates must undertake to fulfil all the requirements of the course, and to remain in the

sponsoring centre for at least one year after successful completion of the course, and within theBritish Council for one more year after that.

Study leave & TEFL-Q qualifications - There is no network standard for study leave before theDELTA exam. However, BC Oman will try to accommodate a couple of non-teaching days prior toor on the day of the examination if this is operationally feasible.

Teaching hours & levels whilst taking TEFL-Q qualifications - Due to operational needs, BCOman cannot at the moment offer teachers reduced timetables during DELTA study. However, the

centre will, where possible, give DELTA participants timetables that suit DELTA observations, i.e.at least two significantly different levels.

Conditions attached to TEFL-Q funding: • Candidates must undertake to fulfil all the requirements of the course. Any failure to do so,

or withdrawal from the course without good reason, will result in a failure to meet conditions.

• Those completing training in the first year of a two-year contract would be expected to seeout their contract, and to remain within the network for a further year. Those completing

training in their second year of contract would be expected to extend for one year in theircurrent centre, and remain in the network for a further year after that, but not necessarilywith the same centre.

Failure to meet conditions

Should any of the conditions not be met, the teacher will be required to repay all or an appropriateproportion of the fees that the British Council invested in his or her TEFL-Q training programme.

This is usually calculated pro-rata according to the conditions above.External Qualifications - Specialist Qualifications

If you teach specialised courses or particular groups of students, such as Young Learners, youmay wish to take a qualification that supports you in this.




Page 14 of 36

YL Extension to the CELTA

The centre will aim to train up to five people per year on the YL extension course. This course willusually be held here in the centre. If the course is elsewhere, then we may only be able to send

one or two.

Other TrainingBusiness English

If you feel that training in Teaching ESP and Business English would benefit both yourdevelopment and that of the centre, please do speak to your line manager and to Richard

(Corporate Training Manager) and we can explore possibilities.ICT trainingIn addition to INSET and self-access Promethean training programmes, there is a wealth of self-study training material for MS Office available to BC teachers through the Intranet. See the

Intranet section on ICT training for more information If a centre need is identified, BC Oman mayalso part-fund specialist ICT training for TEFL with online providers Consultants-e, e.g. online

moderation, wikis and blogs, etc.

Post-graduate qualifications If you decide to undertake a Masters or similar, and these courses are also valuable for your workwithin the British Council you can apply for funding through the Professional Development Scheme

(PDS). This fund is there to provide financial support for staff taking further training and aims toimprove the skills available within the network in a range of areas related to our work. The amount

of support may vary from year to year and between courses and applicants. The maximum amountthan can be awarded to any individual is £3,000 total over four years.Suitable coursesThere is no fixed list of acceptable courses. While the PDS focuses predominantly on Masters level

courses, exceptions may be made for other suitable, relevant courses/programmes at other levels. Applicants must demonstrate that a course fulfils the purposes of the loan. However, the PDS sitelists both typical course types and details of courses that have previously received funding. This isnot a list of approved courses but shows what might qualify for an award. If you are interested in

any of the courses listed you can contact the person taking it to get a first hand account.Eligibility - The scheme is open to teaching and exams staff, including local administrative and

UK-based staff who have had at least two years' service in English and Exams.Hourly-paid teachers can apply for awards from the PDS fund. The British Council needs to beassured from the application, and by the TCM’s supporting statement that accompanies theapplication, that the individual has a appropriate level of commitment to the British Council.Applications for funding must be made via your Teaching Centre Manager. You will need the

following:• a completed application form

• an up-to-date CV•

a reference from your Teaching Centre Manager countersigned by the Country Director• a statement of no more than 800 words stating the content of the course proposed; its

value to your personal and work context; and the contribution you have made to the

network as a whole.Refer to the PDS site on the intranet for additional support and information.Timetable for applications

Applications are usually due in early April.

Conferences and the Conference Grant Scheme Conferences

If you are interested in presenting papers or conducting workshops at conferences, talk to your linemanager, centre manager or ELT projects manager who should be able to tell you aboutconferences taking place in your region and beyond. The regional Quality in the Classroom

Manager, Jim O’Neil often organises ways that teachers can ‘win’ attendance to conferences.You can also check the Training and Development site (where you will find the worldwide

conference calendar) or search the internet to find dates and locations of conferences and thetopics they are addressing.




Page 15 of 36

Appendix: Useful Links to Key Documents

The following links are to some useful documents on the British Council drives and the Intranet inMuscat. You will need to be in the office on a BC computer to access these.

You should familiarise yourself with these documents once you are in the country. If you havedifficulty accessing the links, or are unsure how to use them you should consult your line manager.

The British Council Muscat Shared G: Drive

For Academic information on Adult and YL courses:

G:\Teaching Centre and select relevant folder

For information on Admin matters (e.g. Medical claims, Performance Management, Induction, etc.):G:\Teaching Centre\Teachers Admin

For information on Training (e.g. CELTA, DELTA and INSETTs):G:\Teaching Centre\Teacher Training

For documents on Fire Procedures:G:\Teaching Centre\Teachers Admin\Fire Safety

Intranet Links

For the BC World home page

http://intranet.britishcouncil.org/Pages/default.aspx

For a world of information and support for BC Teachers:http://intranet.britishcouncil.org/TEACHINGANDEXAMS/Pages/Default.aspx

For Learning and Development in general in the BC:http://intranet.britishcouncil.org/hr/Performance_Development/Pages/default.aspx

For information on the Learning and Performance Management system for Teachers, you can gostraight to the online Portfolio, and the information is available in pop-up windows:http://myportfolioteachers.britishcouncil.org




Page 16 of 36

Personal Administration

Terms and Conditions of Service

For the details of your overall terms and conditions please refer to your contract. Here, however,

are some of the key points:

Working HoursThe contract is for a 37.5 hour working week, of which 24 are contact hours. Teachers sometimes

opt to plan at home but we prefer teachers to be onsite so as to benefit from the collaboration withother teachers. We insist that teachers should be onsite at least 30 minutes before their first class.

Anything less than that runs the risk of delays (traffic, parking, etc.) and causes stress to others –e.g. the Academic Managers.

Salary

Salary range is currently on a 10-point scale from 786 to 1027 OMR per month.In addition, there are allowances for accommodation, utilities and transport (see below).

(BC bookkeeping exchange rate for July 2013 was £1 = 0.59 OMR.)

Income Tax & National InsuranceCurrently no income tax is payable in Oman. UK Class 1 National Insurance payments may becompulsory for the first 52 weeks of this agreement. If so, the Council will pay the employer's

share and will deduct the employee's share from your salary at source.

Fares & TravelEconomy class travel is covered for member of staff, accompanying partner and children fromprevious BC post or the UK. Should you be joining us from another location or employer, you mayonly be covered up to the value of a flight from the UK, and after prior agreement on flights.

Economy class returns to the UK for member of staff, accompanying partner and children at the

end of 2-year contracts are provided if contract is extended).

Visa - All nationals require a visa when working here and this can take up to a month to process.

The British council will make arrangements for this and cover associated costs. You do not needto do anything before coming to post except for sending you’re a scan of your passport and a

photo.The visa is normally valid for two years, and once residence status has been granted, you canenter and leave the Sultanate at will.

Baggage Allowance

At the beginning, and on successful completion, of your employment with the British Council inOman, you are entitled to an accountable baggage allowance of up to £1,200 for unaccompanied

employees or up to £2,000 for employees accompanied by family members. Accountable means that you have to arrange the shipping and payment yourself and then claimthe allowance back on production of receipts once in post. However, if you are working for aBritish Council before coming to BC Oman, direct payment can sometimes be arranged by your old

centre and charged to us. In both cases, we ask staff to provide us with three quotations to ensurethat we are getting value for money.

Arranging shipment - It is difficult for us to advise on which shippers to use because it dependson where you are coming from, but large international movers are a good start and it can be usefulto know that our regular vendors here are GAC and CEVA Logistics because they may end up

being the agent at this end. It is also worth checking out regular parcel services andunaccompanied baggage on airlines if you don’t have very much to bring.

Note that, if it’s not small, you should aim for your shipment to arrive about one month after you do.This is to ensure that you have a flat to deliver it to! We cannot accept and hold deliveries at theoffice. If you have queries on the process, or if they ask for a BC contact for the paperwork, then




Page 17 of 36

please put them in touch with Kamil Al Balushi [email protected] +968 24681007.




Page 18 of 36

Settling-In AllowanceTeachers new to the Sultanate are entitled to a settling-in allowance equivalent to two week’ssalary for single employees, or three weeks’ salary for employees accompanied by family

members, to help you to meet your initial expenses on first arrival in Oman. If your partner, civilpartner or spouse is also on a British Council contract then this allowance will be calculated andpayable on the higher salary only.

Accommodation Allowance A fully accountable accommodation allowance of up to OMR 355 per month will be paid for

unaccompanied staff and up to OMR 390 for accompanied staff. This is usually enough for adecent one or two-bedroom apartment.

FurnitureBasic furniture (bed, sofa, tables, etc.) and white goods (e.g. A/C units, cooker, washing machine

and fridge) are provided by the Council as most rented accommodation in Oman is unfurnished.These items are listed in the centre's furniture policy.

Other Monthly Allowances A non-accountable utilities allowance of OMR 40 per month is paid. A non-accountable transport allowance of OMR 50 per month is paid.

Annual Leave AllowanceTeachers are entitled to 35 (working) days of annual leave per year, plus up to 14 days of NationalHolidays. The National Holidays are often declared by the government at the last minute owing tothe vagaries of the Muslim calendar, but the BC publishes its own list, which shows ourentitlements and approximate dates.

As a rough guide for the annual leave, teachers generally take about 4 weeks in summer, two

weeks over Christmas, and the rest of their entitlement in smaller chunks during the academic year(usually in spring). All leave has to be agreed with the DTCM.

Medical Allowance

Network teachers and dependents will be covered by the Council's group medical insurancescheme, currently provided by BUPA International. The scheme will cover medical and hospitaltreatment, repatriation costs, and other items. Treatment for some items and conditions (e.g.dental work and optical) is NOT covered by the policy. Payments will normally be made by the

teacher and reclaimed directly from the provider. Local Teachers will be covered by a comparablelocal insurance scheme.




Page 19 of 36

Arriving at post

It will usually be arranged for new teachers to arrive several days before teaching begins for

induction and admin purposes. You will be sent your visa and detailed arrival instructions shortlybefore you travel, but generally new teachers can expect to be met in the arrivals hall at Muscat

Airport by a member of staff (or a driver), who will take you to your temporary accommodation.

Before leaving the airport, you should get a SIM card for your phone, and make sure you haveenough cash to keep you going for the first few days. (You can change money or get money out ofthe ATMs more easily here.)Your temporary accommodation will probably be a serviced apartment or hotel suite. The standardBC contract allows for two weeks in this accommodation to give you time to find your own

permanent accommodation. After arrival, you will receive a schedule for the first few days and foryour induction. Arrangements will be made to take you to and from the British Council centre for

the first few days.

Visa process

This process needs to begin at least 5 to 6 weeks before travel and we will need from you a scanof your passport information pages, plus a decent scan (e.g. around 1MB size) of a passport stylephoto. The photo will preferably be on a blue background, although white is acceptable).

If you are accompanied to post (i.e. wife, children), there are other needs, so please discuss themwith the DTCM.The British Council will secure your working visa for Oman and will have it ready for you to collectat Muscat airport on arrival.

Please note that the British Council cannot obtain visas for people over 60 years of age, andcannot obtain visas for dependents of female members of staff. Children must be sponsored by

their father, and wives by their husband.Please also note that, as part of the visa process, there will be a medical test that involves bloodscreening. If you have any concerns about this, please discuss them with the DTCM.

Obtaining a resident card All foreigners resident in Oman must obtain a labour permit within 30 days of arrival, and this even

includes Summer School teachers. The procedures for getting your Resident Card will bearranged and managed for you by Kamil, our Public Relations Officer. Kamil will keep youinformed, but here are the typical steps you can expect:

Step 1: Kamil has already done a lot of the work with your passport scan and photo in order to getthe clearance for your visa from the Ministry of Education (our sponsor). The next step will be a

medical check, which will normally be arranged within the first couple of days of the induction. Youwill be taken to a private clinic for this and it can last anywhere between 60 minutes and 4 hoursdepending on numbers.

Step 2: Kamil will need to get the Medical Checks attested and then he will prepare somepaperwork, attach your passport, and then submit everything to the Ministry of Manpower. There is

then a wait for them to come back which could take a week.

Step 3: Once the clearance is gained, you will be taken to a Civil Status centre operated by the

ROP (Royal Omani Police). Somebody will accompany you through the process of queuing andfinally you will have your picture and fingerprints taken. After about another hour’s wait, you will be

able to collect your Resident Card from the front desk area. You need to pay attention here, asthey just call out names in batches, and may mispronounce it! The whole process can take as little

as an hour or as much as 4 hours depending on the time of day and the queues.

Step 4: When you return to the BC, Kamil needs a photocopy of your passport, the visa and the

front and back of your resident’s card.

Congratulations! You are now a resident, and can buy a car, get a booze licence, and even usethe card to go through the electronic gates at Muscat International airport. ! You can also start to

sort out the following:




Page 20 of 36

Bank Account

You will need to open a bank account in Oman. There are several options, but the most popularones used by teachers are either HSBC or Bank Muscat. The British Council’s own account is with

HSBC, and so they often offer teachers a free Advance status for their accounts so make sure youask about this. To open an account, they will usually ask for a no objection letter, and/or a salary

transfer letter from the BC letting them know your salary amount and that we will be paying it in ona monthly basis. Your salary can be paid into either of these banks, and both offer internetbanking, online payments and international transfers. There are numerous ATM machines around,

e.g. at malls, some petrol stations and some supermarkets, and most will also accept internationalbank or credit cards if you need to access money from the UK, for example. ATMs all have an

English option, and there is one across the road from the centre at the Oman Oil petrol station.

Driving Licence

If you hold a driver’s licence from the UK (and some other countries too), you can drive on that forup to 3 months. However, once resident here and in order to buy a car, you will need to get an

Omani driving licence. This is a simple procedure if your UK licence has been valid for at least ayear.

To use your existing licence to obtain an Omani one, you will need to complete a form (Kamilkeeps some with him) and provide two photos with a blue background. You need to go to the ROPdriving centre (there’s one in Seeb near the airport, and there’s one near Qurum) for an eye test

and then you will be issued with an Omani licence on the same day.

NB: There are a few teachers who have learned to drive in Oman but they have commented that it can be a frustratingprocess. Most people end up taking the test a lot of times before they pass because the system is not well regulated anda bit arbitrary. The teachers who have been through this process would strongly advise getting drivers licences beforecoming to post!

Car hire

Until you buy your own car, you will need to rent one and this can be done easily before your first

weekend. There are several car hire companies in Muscat and rates are fairly reasonable. In fact,some teachers hire cars for quite extended periods and some share the costs. However, most buytheir own as it is the most economical option in the long run. Monthly rates start at around OMR150-175 for a basic automatic car.

Value Plus (give a decent rate to our teachers): Tel: 2450 1372 or 9946 2076 (Ask for Prabhin)

Autorent (recently popular with teachers due to prices): Tel: 2457 1951 or 9516 7390 (Vineet)

Budget: Tel: 2468 3999 (Ask for Malcolm)

Alcohol Licence:

To buy alcohol in the special stores in Oman you must have a licence from the Royal Oman Police(ROP). Again you must complete a form, which the BC office can provide, and get a letter of noobjection / statement of salary from the BC. The cost for your licence will depend on how muchyou would like your monthly allowance to be, and the limit for this is, in turn, based on your basic

salary. You must present this each time you buy alcohol and the cashier fills in the amount spenteach month.

There are a few alcohol shops in Muscat, including two or three in the MQ shopping area near theBritish Council. You should be aware that alcohol once purchased should be taken straight homeand can only be consumed in private; it would not be possible to bring your shopping inside the

British Council building.




Page 21 of 36

Accommodation

You will be provided with accommodation for at least the first two weeks after arrival and given up

to 2 days off if necessary to seek your own place.It is the teacher’s responsibility to find their own permanent accommodation, but with a number ofwebsites and agents operating in the capital, this is not very difficult. Often, new teachers can

move straight into an apartment vacated by a departing teacher. If this is not an option, then theteaching staff can advise you on good areas to live in. Most teachers live less than 20 minutes’drive away in Qurum, Khuweir, Ghoubra or Azaiba.New teachers will be supported in finding something appropriate and then to negotiate the lease.This is a standard document and normally for 12 months. Many landlords will demand 6 or even

12 months in advance and the BC can pay this for you and just reclaim it via your monthlyallowance. However, the name on the lease must be yours and not the British Council.

Address for teachers’ mail

It is not possible to have mail delivered to your home address in Muscat so we suggest you use thecentre’s address:

The British CouncilPO Box 73, Road One

Madinat Sultan QaboosPostal code 115MuscatSultanate of Oman

Price Guide

MSQ (Madinat al Sultan Qaboos – where the BC is - and very expat-y) is expensive. Rents areusually around 800 - 1500 RO in this area, and is probably only an option if you are willing to share.

Qurum can also be quite expensive but worth looking at if you wish to be ‘central’, near a beach,and where things are close by, perhaps even on foot. Places are hard to come by here on a BCteacher’s budget, but two teachers have nice flats here for less than RO 400, which is a very good

deal for this location.

Al Khuwair is just 5 or 10 minutes from the BC and has some older 2-bedroom villas and newer 1,

2 and 3 bedroom flats at around RO 250 to 450.

A few members of staff have places in Al Ghoubra, which is only 10 to 15 minutes’ drive from theBC and sandwiched between the highway and the beach. A 2-bedroom flat in this area can be

anywhere from RO 300 to 550, depending on location and age of building.

Slightly further along the beach and out towards Seeb is the newer suburb of Azaiba, where flatsand villas are a little cheaper and bigger. A number of teachers and staff live here if they preferspace over location.

Generally, the further you get from MQ (towards Seeb), the cheaper the rent. However, the driving

may get to be a bit much from places such as Hail and Mawaleh, even though the rents aretempting!




Page 22 of 36

Some providers and agents that staff have used in the past

Agent Contact info

1. Steps 2448 88912. Gulf Property 2469 7588 / 9586 58503. First Choice 9938 8170

4. Hilal Properties 2460 0688 Fax 2460 0683 Email: [email protected] 5. Homes Real Estate 24488087

Some websites to browse for possibilitieswww.engelvoelkers.com/om/ www.oman.cluttons.com/ http://www.baitoman.com/ www.omanhomes.comwww.sav-oman.com www.dubizzle.com

Other Useful Sources

Classifieds – The Times of Oman, Oman Observer, The WeekThe Week is free and the other 2 papers cost 200 Baisas from any Al Fair supermarket, Family

Bookshop or corner store.

Notice boards – outside every Al Fair supermarket there are public notice boards which should be

updated each week. They can look a mess but advertise everything from 4-wheel drives to kittens,so are well worth looking at. There are several Al Fair supermarkets relatively close to the BC.

For Rent / To Lease signs on building – many a teacher has found their flat simply by driving

around a chosen area (best done on a weekday - 8-1pm, or 4-9pm) and looking for notices onbuildings. Phone the relevant number straight away and see if anyone can come and show youround.

Students can be a great source of up-to-date news on things like properties to rent, and other staff

Remember !

• It is OK to haggle – look for ‘best price’ and ask the agent to consult the owner and getback to you (be aware that landlords will sometimes charge ‘expat’ rates)

• The fact you work for the British Council may make you an attractive prospect for some

landlords, so do mention this. Also mention that the British Council can pay rent up to 6 or12 months in advance if this will help seal a deal.

• Some landlords will lower the rent if they don’t have to supply air-conditioning units, so

check for this. The BC will give you up to three units, so flats with no AC are an option.

• Check whether the water is on the mains supply. In the some parts of the city, there are stillplaces where you have to get it delivered by ‘water truck’, which is annoying. You should

also if the area is connected to a sewage system: Some areas still use septic tanks.

• Check the water pressure and ask if there is (any need for?) a water pump.

• Check the electricity and water meters and ask about the bills – i.e. how they are delivered.

You can check your electricity and water bills online if you have the codes, but they will beone month out of date. Electricity, water and phone bills can all be paid online or at OIFC

offices. There are also some special bill-payment machines is some malls. Gas is paid ondelivery by the cylinder and should cost about RO3.5 and last a long time!

• Check for TV and phone connections and that you have enough power points. Voltage is

the same as the UK (AC 220/240 volts, 50HZ). Most buildings have 13 amp 3-pin square




Page 23 of 36

sockets, so UK appliances are easy to use. Adaptors are readily available for other plugtypes.




Page 24 of 36

Setting Up Home

Furniture

As most flats are rented unfurnished, the BC, where necessary, provides the essential items forNetwork teachers moving into the country for the first time. This includes a cooker, a fridge and a

washing machine, plus up to three A/C units. You will also be provided with (or the centre willreimburse you for) a bed and wardrobe, sofa and armchair, dining table and chairs, and curtains.

There is a detailed furniture policy for this and the DTCM will give you a copy and explain it toyou during your induction.

You will receive a Settling-in allowance of 2 weeks’ pay, and this will help you provide other thingsfor your home, such as bedding, towels, cutlery, etc. Many of these things can be picked upcheaply at Home Centre or Homes R US, or less cheaply at places like Lakeland and Zara.

Phones

Omanis love their mobile phones and smart phones (they often own two or three devices!) and you

can buy a pay-as-you go SIM or Nano-SIM card cheaply. There are two major networks, OmanMobile and Nawras, both of which sell top-up cards in most shops and petrol stations. Topurchase a SIM card you need your passport or resident’s card and you can get them from anynetwork counter. There are counters at Arrivals in the airport if you want to buy one as soon as

you arrive it costs about 4 Rials for the SIM and some airtime is included. Basic mobile phonesstart at about 20 Rials. Fixed phone lines are possible through Omantel.

Internet

This changes all the time, but at the moment you can have broadband internet installed on a landline by Omantel or you can buy mobile broadband from Nawras / Oman mobile. Both options can

be wireless. Prices are from 30 Rials for the equipment and from 15 Rials a month for a package.Many people just get Internet through their smartphones or 3G devices.

For more information try www.nawras.om or www.omanmobile.om/en

Cable TV

Cable TV is relatively cheap and easy to set up. Many buildings have satellites on the roof whichyou can connect your cables to, or you can set up your own system from a provider. OSN

Showtime is the main supplier, and is the equivalent of the UK’s Sky in that you get a HD box witha hard drive that allows you to pause and record programmes and you also get a lot of stuff ondemand. As well as lots of film channels and even UK entertainment channels (you can get yourfixes of Corrie and Eastenders!), it has a lot of other international channels and sport channels, butnot the Premiership. It costs between 15-25 Rials per month see www.osnetwork.com for further

information.

Home ComfortsNo need to worry about Marmite, sausages and organic tea. There is a wide range of internationalproducts – foodstuffs and toiletries - available in a number of supermarkets. There are even

Waitrose products available, as well as (expensive) pork sections in some supermarkets.

Water

The local tap water is produced in a desalination plant and is said to be sterile. However, this initialquality may be affected by the cleanliness of your water tank on the roof, which needs be cleaned

properly at least once a year. In theory, therefore, the water is safe to drink, and most people useit for tea and cooking and brushing their teeth without any problems at all. However, most people

only drink bottled water and this is even delivered to homes very cheaply. A 5 gallon (18 litre)

drum of water that rests on dispensers, for example, costs about 1 OMR. 1.5L and 0.5L bottles areavailable everywhere in supermarkets, garages and corner shops, and are quite cheap too.




Page 25 of 36

Oman

Country Overview

Oman is located in the Arabian Peninsula and stretches from its most northerly region, Musandam,by the Straits of Hormuz, to the capital of the southern Dhofari region, Salalah, which fronts The

Indian Ocean.Oman is a spectacularly beautiful country because of its dramatic mountain ranges and lush date

palm groves. There are mountains, oases and wadis, as well as miles of gorgeous unspoiledbeaches, and many expats explore the country at weekends and on public holidays by means offour-wheel drive trips. For those not given to the more rugged joys of camping, many centres haverest houses where the conditions vary between excellent and tolerable but all are clean,comfortable and friendly. Some have restaurants and some are licensed.

Although people with 4-wheel-drive vehicles have access to some of the more remote areas ofOman, given the enormous and continuing development of the road network throughout the

country, it is possible to do fascinating trips in a normal car. All the towns of the coastal plain arewell worth turning off the main highway to visit and Dubai can be reached in 4.5 hours.

In general, Omanis are very relaxed, tolerant and famous for their hospitality. In Muscat, you will

not find yourself constrained unduly by dress-code considerations although it would beunacceptable to wear beach clothes in shops or on the street. At work in the Council, men mustdress smartly (trousers, shoes, shirt) and women should dress modestly, covering the tops of theirarms and their knees, and taking extra care in Ramadan.In short, Oman is a beautiful, comfortable country in which to live. Also, as much as it is ever

possible to say these days, it is safe. To date, recent unrest in the region has had very limitedimpact on life in Oman but visitors should be aware of Foreign Office advice on travel to the region:

www.fco.gov.uk

City Overview

The capital city of Oman is Muscat. It is located on the coast and is the most populated city in the

country with over half a million people, approximately half of whom are Omanis. It is set betweenthe mountains and the sea and has been attractively developed and maintained. You are never

very far from a beach, a view of the mountains, or from a shopping centre! The city is quite spreadout and old Muscat and the port of Muttrah are approximately 30kms from the British Council'spremises. In Muttrah there is one of the best souqs in the Gulf selling silverware and frankincense.Personal security is not a major issue in the Capital Area though it is always prudent to lock

vehicles and accommodation. Levels of crime remain very low compared with parts of Western andEastern Europe and the Americas.

Ministry and Public office hours are from 0700 to 1430 Sunday to Thursday, with privatecompanies working till 17.00 or later. Shops and commercial businesses are normally openSunday to Thursday 0800 to 1300, 1600 to 2100. Banks are open from 08.00 to 13.00.

ClimateOman has the dubious honour of being one of the hottest countries in the region, but although

temperatures can soar into the 40’s between June and August, the winter months of October toMarch are very pleasant. The summer weather is less of a trial than one might expect as all carsand buildings, including private homes, are air-conditioned. It is difficult to be outside for any lengthof time during the day in summer. After dark is a different matter, though, with evenings best

described as sticky but tolerable near the beaches. The climate in the south of the country in theDhofar region is cooler than Muscat in July and August due to a microclimate and the Monsoonseason. Many Omanis flock here in the summer.Temperatures inland in the Hajar Mountains are approximately 10 to 15 degrees cooler than inMuscat.

History

Oman has a fascinating and distinguished history and once ruled a seaborne empire which

encompassed parts of East Africa and the Indian sub-continent. As this empire withered, Omanfell into a sharp decline. By the 1950s, it was an introverted and shrivelled state, virtually cut off




Page 26 of 36

from the outside world. The tribes of the interior were at odds with each other and with those of thecoastal plain, and the Sultan had great difficulty in imposing his authority. The accession in 1970of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the present ruler of the country, however, together with the

discovery and exploitation of substantial oil and gas reserves, has radically transformedOman. The effect on the Omani people of the staggering progress achieved in the course of thelast four decades is almost impossible for the outsider fully to assess or comprehend. The recent

slump in oil prices has affected the speed and scope of development but has not halted it, andhopes for the future remain bright. Oman is a predominantly "young" country; its birth rate of 3.7%is one of the highest in the world and it is estimated that around 50% of Omanis are aged 15 and

under. Since 1970, the government has targeted education, healthcare and communications askey developmental sectors. Among the government's top priorities at the moment are Omanisation,which aims to reduce the Sultanate's dependence on expatriate workers and to provide more jobopportunities for Omanis, and the stimulation of local industry and diversification of the economy,which aims to reduce its dependence on oil and natural gas, which currently account for nearly

70% of government revenue and around 40% of GDP. The Omani government attachesimportance to its relationship with Britain, which is long-standing but which is currently entering a

new phase, more appropriate perhaps to the political and economic realities of the 21st

century. As long ago as 1800, a British agent was posted at Muscat, so that "the friendship of thetwo states may remain unshaken until the end of time and till the sun and moon have finished theirrevolving career". The British community, numbering around 7,500, is by far the largest western

expatriate grouping in Oman - although it pales into insignificance in comparison with the verylarge and well-established Indian community.

The people

Those who have visited other countries in the region will notice at once how many nationals throngthe streets (they account for around 75% of the total population of just over 2 million - the highest

percentage of any GCC state). The Omanis are well-known for their tolerance and hospitality andfor their courtesy and benevolence towards foreigners, and it is highly unlikely that you will

experience any disagreeable incidents during your stay in Oman. Practically all male Omanis wear

national dress, consisting of the dishdasha (a long-sleeved tunic, usually white, under which isworn the wizaar, an undergarment), together with a Kimma (embroidered cap) or mussar(turban). The colour of turban or the way in which it is tied sometimes helps to identify the wearer's

tribe or region. On formal occasions, the khanjar is worn - a curved dagger in a highly embossedsilver sheath attached to an embroidered leather belt with silver clasps. Senior Omanis will alsowear a bisht (a lightweight cloak, usually black) on such occasions. Most Omani women, exceptfor some Bedu women and most women from southern Oman, wear light veils to cover their hairand dress in bright colours. Some women, however, dress entirely in black and cover their faceswhen appearing in public. Jewellery is worn ostentatiously on festive occasions; gold is now verypopular, while silver has fallen out of fashion. Foreigners, for their part, are expected to observe a

fairly strict code of practice as regards dress and behaviour in public, especially outside the Muscatarea. Provided that suitable dress is worn and the local code of behaviour is not flouted, you

should not meet with any difficulty or hostility as you travel round the country. Indeed, you willgenerally be left to your own devices. Though devout Muslims, most Omanis are tolerant of other

religions: there are both Roman Catholic and Protestant churches in Muscat. Many Omanis haveonly relatively recently returned to Oman from overseas after the accession of HM Sultan Qaboos;

in many cases their forefathers settled abroad generations ago. Most prominent among this groupare those formerly resident in Zanzibar and in Baluchistan, now part of Pakistan. The fact that theyhave been easily absorbed into the community is indicative of the accommodating attitude whichprevails in most parts of the Sultanate - especially in the more cosmopolitan coastal areas. Not

surprisingly, the Omanis are immensely proud of the extraordinary progress which has beenrealized in so short a time.

The languageThe official language of Oman is Arabic, although many Omanis speak English, especially in theMuscat area. Virtually all shop and road signs are written in both languages. Some attempt

should be made to learn a few basic phrases in Arabic, at very least, no matter how much some




Page 27 of 36

people insist that it is not really necessary. It goes without saying that even the most hesitantattempt to slip in a few words of Arabic is bound to create a favourable impression.

Learning the Language

English is the lingua franca in Muscat. You will have no problem in getting through most if not all

situations in English. There is a large expat population and English is a common language inservice encounters. However, you should try to learn the basic Arabic greetings and the localpeople are always pleased to hear you say a few words. The Polyglot Institute offers Arabiclanguage courses.

Here are some basics:

Hello As Salaam alykum Thank you ShukranGood morning Sabaah al Khair You’re welcome AhfwanGood Morning (reply) Sabah al Noor Please Minfadlak

Good Bye Masalama Do you speak English? Tatkallam inglizee

Local Press and Radio

There are several local English language daily newspapers: the Oman Daily Observer and the

Times of Oman, the Oman Tribune, Muscat Daily, etc. Other Gulf English language newspapersare widely available. Many British daily and weekly newspapers can be purchased at leadingsupermarkets but are obviously cheaper on-line. Oman Today is published every 2 months listingwhat's on throughout the Sultanate and details clubs and interest groups (such as the dive centres,historical society and Hash House running club). The Muscat Resident's Guide is also available. It

is published once every two years and includes reviews of restaurants, shops, etc.There are a couple of English language radio stations which are useful when driving, with Hi FM

being the most popular.

Dress Codes in Oman

As mentioned above, the Omanis wear dishdashas and abayas and, although they won’t say much, theyexpect a certain degree of decorum – and respect - from expatriates. Some people feel that they shouldhave the right to wear what they want. However, it is important to remember that our personal rights endwhen they come into contact with other people’s rights and sensitivities. We must also remember that weare guests in this country and must show respect.

Dress Code for the Office

People in offices are expected to dress appropriately, for example, and women are generally expected tocover their arms and their legs and men are usually expected to wear a shirt and tie.

Whilst we are not overly strict in the Teaching Centre, you are representing the British Council and its qualityreputation, so we do expect teachers to observe the following dress codes:

For men – A tie and jacket are not required unless going off-site, but male teachers must wear a work shirt,work trousers and work shoes in the centre. Jeans, cargo pants and other types of trousers that look likeweekend wear are not acceptable. Trainers and sandals are also not acceptable (and not necessary owingto air-conditioning) in the office, no matter how smart they are.

For women – Shoulders, knees and cleavage should be covered. (In Ramadan, you should also coverelbows and calves, and consider higher neck tops.) All year round, clothing should not be transparent, andyou should generally avoid figure-hugging clothing too. Like everyone, it is important to look smart when atwork here, so items of clothing and fabrics that one would normally associate with casual weekend wearshould be avoided. Bear in mind that despite the heat outside, the air-conditioning can mean you need towear a shawl or cardigan at times.

Staff who come into the office on their days off are requested to dress as for work, since studentsin the building have no way of knowing that it is the teacher's day off, and may misinterpret an




Page 28 of 36

appearance that is too casual (particularly men wearing shorts) as an indication of a general lack ofprofessionalism.




Page 29 of 36

General living costs & conditions

Prices vary. Some are generally the same or a little more expensive than the UK (particularly forimported products), though many products are cheaper. Nearly everything available in the UK isavailable in Oman, for a price. One supermarket, Al Fair, even stocks products from Waitrose.

There are many large supermarkets (e.g. Carrefour, Sultan Centre and Al Fair) and shopping malls(City Centre, Sabco and Lulu centres). In the Souq and Ruwi prices are considerably cheaper.

The unit of currency is the Omani Rial. RO1/- is divided into 1,000 baisas. Notes are 50, 20, 10, 5,and 1 Rial. There are also 500 baisa, and 100 baisa notes. There are coins but they tend to be

used infrequently. The Rial a hard currency and is pegged to the dollar and so is relatively stablein value. Current rate of exchange: £1= 0.59 OMR. Foreign currency can be obtained at banks

and money exchanges with low commission. Visa, MasterCard and AmEx are accepted widely.

Price guide:

• weekly food/toiletries shop at Carrefour or Lulu for one: OMR 45/-

• fruit and veg for 2 people for a week from the Central Market: OMR 7-8/-

• petrol - full tank for a regular saloon car: OMR 7/-

• monthly phone bill with 2 long UK calls: 0MR 35/-

• a beer in a hotel: OMR 3.0/-

• cinema ticket: OMR 2.5/-

• cappuccino in expensive cafe: OMR 2.0/-

• large pizza, coke and service: OMR 5/-

• imported cigarettes: OMR 1.0/-

• Big Mac with cheese, fries and coke: OMR 2.1/-

• an Indian meal for 2: OMR 15/-

Five star hotels and licensed restaurants add on 17% in Service, Municipality and Tourism taxes

Job Opportunities for Partners

It can be difficult for partners to find well-paid work in Muscat. Hourly paid teaching work andIELTS examining work at the Teaching Centre may be available for those with the appropriatequalifications and experience. There are opportunities at a number of other private language

institutes, Sultan Qaboos University and English-medium schools for teachers with the rightqualifications and experience.

Schooling & Childcare

There are several private schools in Muscat for children of all ages: the British School; the British - American Academy; Muscat Private School and the Sultan's School in Seeb. State schools are

Arabic-medium. However, on a full time teacher's salary it would be almost impossible to pay formore than 1 child in such an institution and even paying for one would be problematic. There are

also waiting lists to enter some of the schools listed above.With a large population of expatriates particularly from south and east Asia, childcare can be foundat a reasonably affordable price. Many expatriate families employ a maid, either full-time or part-time. Full-time help requires sponsorship (flight every 2 years; labour card OMR 200/-); medical

expenses, salary (range: OMR 140 - 200/-) and may require the provision of accommodation. Part-time help costs approximately OMR 60-80/- per month for 2-3 x 3-hour visits per week.




Page 30 of 36

Shopping and Eating Out

Areas for shopping

Most shopping takes place in malls and the better ones arethought to be the two ‘City Centre’ malls – one in Seeb and

one in Qurum – and a new mall in Ghoubra called MuscatGrand Mall. All of these malls have a Carrefour supermarket

inside as well as food courts, restaurants, coffee shops,clothes retailers, and home and electrical retailers. Muscat

Grand Mall also has a cinema. There are several other smallermalls with various shops, restaurants and supermarkets.The Muttrah Souq is the biggest “old style” market which sellseverything from cheap clothes and shoes to incense and

carpets. However, for cheap and practical things, a lot ofpeople might go to Ruwi and try the small shops there.

Supermarkets

There are lots of supermarkets in Muscat, including Carrefour. A popular one for ex-pats is Al Fair,which has a lot of Waitrose products. They also have great bakery and deli counters but it can

prove a bit pricey for a weekly shop. This is the same for Sultan Centre, which also caters forricher ex-pats. Lulu and Carrefour are the biggest and best value supermarkets where you can

find almost everything you need. Other cheaper options are available too.

Clothes

The shopping malls here offer a range of low budget clothes retailers through to the more

expensive and designer outlets. There are a Marks and Spencer’s (a bit expensive compared withthe UK), H&M, Zara and Gap to mention a few well-known brands. Tailors are relatively

inexpensive and produced good quality clothes. Male teachers can get decent shirts and well-

made suits and for females – they’ll pretty much make anything you want in any style.

Eating out

There are lots of coffee shops all over Muscat, Starbucks, Costa

Coffee and Second Cup, plus many cheaper local ones. Formeals out the Indian restaurants are the cheapest. There aremany other types of restaurants, for example seafood, Italian,Lebanese, Turkish, Omani, Mexican and even one Japaneseand one French. There are lots of late night cafes selling a

range of take away food and shwarma sandwiches which arevery popular here at around 300 baisas each. Very few

restaurants are licenced and most of those which are tend to belocated in the 5 star hotels where you will pay a higher price,Trader Vics, Senor Picos, Tuscany. Teachers recommend avisit to the Turkish house in Al Khuwair to experience their inexpensive fish menu. There are lots of

American and Western chain outlets, mostly in shopping malls, which include Noodle House,Shang Thai, TGI Friday’s, Chilis, MacDonald’s, KFC, etc. One popular thing to do for a treat is to

go for a Friday brunch in one of the hotels, where there is an all you can eat buffet, sometimes withalcohol available.

You might want to check out the latest info on: www.virtualtourist.com




Page 31 of 36

Entertainment

Cinemas - There are a few cinemas, one in Shatti (a popular hangout area with cafes andrestaurants by the beach), one in Muscat Grand Mall, and one in a mall to the north of the city.They show mainstream films but only for a few days. Have a look at www.citycinemaoman.com

which should soon have online tickets.

Music - The brand new Royal Opera House is now operational and features some world-class actsand ranging from classical and world music to opera and ballet. www.rohmuscat.org.om/

Concerts - There are the odd touring Artists who come here, in recent years we have seenconcerts by James Blunt, Status Quo, The Proclaimers and Tom Jones.

Bars and clubs - The Timeout magazine probably describes the nightlife here best:

“Before you get any kind of preconceptions about Muscat’s nightlife, it’s best to take a second andremember where you are.. Whilst the evening scene is on the rise, venues outside hotels are definitely few

and far between!

.increasingly open-minded Omanis are treating a vibrant nightlife as a reach investment intheir bid to poach tourists away from their neighbours!they’ll (residents) tell you about some great places tovisit but be advised that the local idea of a good night out is far more a sedate affair than a weekend in Corfu”Muscat Timeout, Summer 2009, p46

A few of the bars:

Al Ghazal in the Intercontinental Hotel.The Cellar Bar at the Radisson.Left Bank – the only decent bar not in a hotel.Duke’s Bar at the Crown Plaza.

Safari Sports bar at the Grand Hyatt

A couple of the clubs:Zouk at Crowne Plaza

Rock Bottom at the Ramee Guestline hotel.Copacabana at the Grand Hyatt.

Swimming pools / gyms All the big hotels have pools and gyms and most of the offer membership packages. There arealso other companies around Muscat. You can normally pay day fees or join for longermembership packages.

• Muscat Holiday in Al Khuwair – a small gym and a decent sized pool. An affordable option.

• Palm Beach Club at the Intercontinental Hotel – gym and swimming pools on offer but

membership is required for at least 3 months and it’s a bit on the expensive side.• Horizon Gym – several gyms located around the city – one has a pool. Affordable

membership.

• Cliff Club at the Crowne Plaza – swimming pool and gym, squash courts and tennis courts. Another pricy hotel gym but in beautiful surroundings.

The Oman Dive Centre As well as being a diving centre, this place organises snorkelling and boat trips too. It also has a

stunning beach and a small swimming pool. It has some basic accommodation and because thereare lots of European tourists staying onsite, women will feel comfortable swimming and sunbathing

here. A licenced café/restaurant adds to the relaxed Western feel. There is a daily fee to get in

Mountains and Wadis – Exploring the countryside and especially the dry river beds and canyonsis one of the most enjoyable pursuits for the outdoors types here in Oman. Take a tent and pitch

up if you want to stay the night. For example, Jebal Akhdar (Green Mountain) is 2800m above




Page 32 of 36

sea-level. You’ll need a 4x4 to get up there, but there are breath-taking views and it’s a stunningdrive through the small towns and villages.

Beaches – In and around Muscat, and up and down the coasts are some wonderful beaches toexplore in your free time and on weekends. Again, camping is perfectly acceptable practicallyanywhere. One @must do’ activity is to see the Turtles at Ras Al Jinz; a protected beach where

green turtles lay their eggs. It’s only 240km south of Muscat on good road, and has its own“glamping” facilities.

Forts and Museums – Forts are iconic in Oman and there are several old forts worth visiting andnow quite well equipped for tourists. Most of them are open daily and free, or cost very little toenter. On Fridays they will have shorter opening hours. The bigger forts include Nizwa, Barka,Jabrin and Rustaq (the names of the villages they are in). There are a few small museums inMuscat, normally open from Sun to Thur and very cheap to enter. Bait Al Baranda and Bait Al

Zubair are both Omani museums. There is also a Natural History Museum, a Children’s Museumand the National Museum - all in Muscat.

Mosques – there is only one mosque that non-Muslims can go into, the Sultan Qaboos GrandMosque which was the biggest in the world when it was built and boasts the largest carpet in theworld. It’s only open in the mornings and remember you need to be well covered to get inside;

women must also cover their heads.

Souks – there are many traditional markets where you can buy all sorts of things: frankincense,fridge magnets, carpets and jewellery. Muttrah Souk is the biggest in Muscat, there’s a gold souknext to it and a fish souq nearby. Nizwa also has a good souq if you are visiting the town.

Other activities - You can also go scuba diving, paintballing, go karting and bowling and details

can be found in local press, the Oman Today or the Oman Resident’s Guide.

Useful telephone numbers and websites

There is a quarterly Timeout Muscat magazine which has loads of information and contact detailsfor restaurants, entertainment, social groups, sports, days out and emergencies. You should

definitely get a copy when you arrive.

Directory Enquiries 1318Information 2460 0100

Hotels Al Bustan 2470 3242Crown Plaza 2456 1427Grand Hyatt 2469 6596Intercontinental 2460 1224 / 2460 7235Sheraton 2479 9899




Page 33 of 36

Transport and Travel

Most staff buy their own cars as it is the easiest way to get around both in the city and beyond it.

Unless you are unusually rich for a teacher, the choice comes down to either buying second-hand,or getting a finance deal from a car dealer. The latter option is definitely worth considering if youthink you will be here for more than two years and don’t mind a small car.

Buying a Car

To help facilitate the purchase of a car, as well as other settling-in costs, the BC provides aninterest free loan of up to 3 months’ salary, repayable over 12 months. This can be requested afterarrival.

Second-Hand? - There is quite a market for second-hand cars and they tend to keep their value

very well – especially the more reliable Japanese models – so don’t expect huge bargains! Have alook here to get an idea of what to expect: www.dubizzle.com

Tip: Make sure you get any car inspected by a mechanic before agreeing a final price or closing adeal. This only costs about OMR 20, but could save you a lot of headaches. Above all, you reallyneed to check that the A/C is working.

Once you’ve negotiated a deal with someone, the process of buying the car is relativelystraightforward. First you have to transfer the insurance to your name (usually costs a nominalOMR 5 if the owner has included the full value in the car price), or take out a new policy. Then you

go together with the owner to the ROP Vehicle Licencing office (either in Seeb, or in ‘Death Valley’)and change the registration card. If there are any fines to pay, you will find out there, so the owner

will need to settle them. There is a fee for the new registration card, depending on the type of car,but this is only about OMR 20 to 30. You will need to take your resident’s card and Omani drivinglicence and a credit card to pay the charges. In terms of maintenance, bear in mind that labourcharges are very cheap here, but that parts – depending on make – can be costly.

New Car? - Although more costly in the short to medium term, this is a better option if you areworried about breakdowns and the hassle and time that an old banger can cost you. There are

lots of dealerships here and nearly all of them have finance schemes whereby you can get a newcar and pay it back over two years, or even more. Best deals are during and just after Ramadan.On the down side, you will be paying a lot of interest on the finance scheme, but on the plus side,you will have a new car under warranty that should hold quite a lot of value when it comes to

selling it on. Obviously, the more you can put down in cash, the better.

NB: Note that, for old or new, you will have to renew your insurance and your car registrationannually. You will also need to have your resident’s card and Omani driving licence.

Public Transport – but not as we know it

One female teacher who regularly used the public transport system (consisting of only buses and

taxis) said “It’s cheap and simple to use, but requires an adventurous spirit to get started”.

Muscat Baisa Buses – Not many teachers brave the “baisa bus” to and from work. This can bevery uncomfortable in the hotter months as waiting by the road in the heat can be draining.

Taxis - Taxis are white and orange and can be flagged down almost anywhere. Unfortunately,

they are not metred, so you have to have a good idea of typical rates before you catch one. Taxidrivers are all Omanis and they will not rip you off hugely, but they will try to get a good rate from

westerners. You can either pay more to have the cab to yourself (engaged), or (if you catch it on amain road) you can pay less if you are willing to share it with others who are travelling in the same

direction. Unfortunately, there are no reliable taxi companies you can call by phone, so many




Page 34 of 36

teachers, if they rely on taxis, end up getting the numbers of a few tried and trusted drivers and tryto arrange things in advance.

Getting beyond Muscat Apart from going on organised tours, getting out of town is quite difficult without your own vehicleand exploring the countryside is best done in a 4x4. There are several car hire companies and a

couple will do a special deal for BC staff. There are buses which go to the major cities, like Nizwa,which can be caught from the bus station in Ruwi.

Long distance drivingDubai is approx. 5 hours away by car. Some members of staff go regularly to spend the weekendthere. It’s an easy run and with petrol costing about 120 baisa (20p!) per litre it’s the cheapestoption.

Air travelYou can fly to Salalah or Dubai on Oman Air and there are several other cities which the big

airlines fly to: Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad all operate regular flights to their central airports in

the Middle East. The BC’s appointed Travel Agent is Kanoo Travel (2470 0249), but for privatetravel you are free to explore other options. For example, Bahwan Travel Agency sometimes offera discount for BC staff.

Useful numbers Out of town

MuscatSur Beach Hotel Tel: 25440735Sur Mercure Hotel (00968)-25443777 ext 512

Al Falaj Mercure Hotel (00968)- 24702311(ext 890) Fax: 24798144

Al Sawadi Forum Resort Tel: 26795545

Salalah

Salalah Holiday Inn (00968)- 23235160,23235333 Fax: 23235966

Salalah Airport (00968)- 23290097, Fax: 23235966

Salalah Port Services 00968- 99427387

Salalah International Airport Tel : 23290908 / 23294665, Fax: 23294213




Page 35 of 36

Health

Vaccinations

No vaccinations are currently required for the Muscat area and therefore the BC does not cover thecosts. However, if you wish to travel in the country, you may want to make sure your vaccinations

are up-to-date. If you want to do it here, we can recommend Medident Doctors Surgery in MQwhich is less than 5 minutes from the British Council (see below for telephone number).

Health Insurance

Network teachers - The BC provides health insurance for teachers, teachers’ spouses andchildren through the Council's Group Medical Insurance which is currently administered by BUPA.There are several private medical practices which teachers can go to and for most claims teacherstake a claim form to the GP who completes the information and then the teacher gets a receiptwhich they mail to BUPA. The money is then paid into your chosen account. It is a good servicethat seems to work well. One or two medical centres (e.g. Medident) are also willing to get the

payment direct from BUPA if you can produce your membership card.

Locally recruited teachers - Individual teachers will be covered under a comparable local schemeand details are available from the DTCM and/or Resources team.

Hospitals and clinics

The private medical clinics are staffed mainly by personnel trained in Europe and Asia. The privatehospitals are modern and well-equipped, and the general standard of treatment is high in Oman,according to the WHO. Here are the contact numbers of the most popular clinics:

Medident Clinic (close to BC) Tel. 2460 0668Muscat Private Hospital Tel. 2459 2600

Khoula Hospital Tel. 2456 0455Royal Hospital Tel. 2459 9000

Emergencies

Emergency Police/ Ambulance/ Fire 9999Royal Oman Police Tel. 2456 0099

If you need to go to hospital and do not require an ambulance, make your way to Muscat PrivateHospital in Bausher. Take money with you or a credit card as the initial fee can be expensive. Ifpossible take your BUPA card and forms with you otherwise you might have to return to get them

signed and stamped before submitting a claim. (Keep all receipts as you will be reimbursed).

Medical SuppliesInternational and local brands of medicine are available from the chemists, including most

antibiotics (some without a prescription). Muscat Pharmacy usually has a branch open for 24 hoursin each district. If you like a particular type of headache tablet, bring in supplies from the UK – they

might not be readily available here.

Dental and OpticalNeither dental nor optical treatment is covered by the BUPA scheme, so it is advised that youcheck your eyes and teeth before coming. Having said that, there are excellent dentists in Muscatand staff can recommend different ones. There are several opticians in Muscat and they are quitea lot cheaper than in the UK. Teachers recommend the one in Qurum, on the ground floor outside

the SABCO centre and the American Dental Center in Shatti, Tel. 2469 5422.



Oman Teaching Centre Admin HandbookSome pictures of BC Oman