Hundreds of new teachers arrive in capital

Abu Dhabi welcomed hundreds of new teachers that will become the emirate’s latest public school educators.

The international recruits arrived in the capital in recent days and yesterday between 400 and 500 of the English medium teachers and administrators gathered at the Park Rotana Hotel for an induction to life in the country.

After a morning presentation by Abu Dhabi Educationl Council officials, the teachers spent the afternoon completing banking and housing paperwork to start their new lives. Adec also invited service providers, such as car rental companies and home furniture sellers, to attend the orientation, and offer teachers services at a discounted price.

“That is what’s great, they basically give you access to everything to set you up,” said Esther Madray, 29, a South African mother of one, a toddler, who arrived on Thursday.

“We got car rental, we got furnishing, a bank that’s in here opening our accounts – it makes life easier because it is difficult to travel to a new country, you don’t know where you’re going, you don’t know where you are, so the fact that they were able to bring these businesses to us makes it a lot easier.”

Like many workers who leave their homelands to move to the UAE, Ms Madray said she was attracted by the generous salary offered to public school teachers here, the high quality of life and opportunity to experience a new culture.

For many of the teachers who arrived this week, their journey to Abu Dhabi began in February when they applied for jobs through international recruiters. By April, they received written confirmation they had been selected to teach, starting in September. This month, they finally received their e-tickets confirming their international relocation.

While the process may have felt like a lifetime for some, at least one teacher said it was done in the blink of an eye.

“It happened so quickly, I don’t think I had time to think about it,” said Meraaj Sayed, a 54-year-old South African who was encouraged by her husband to apply now that their three children are adults.

“We thought it would be nice for us, we could travel and see the world. The kids are sorted, now it’s our time.”

All of the teachers and administrators interviewed said this was their first trip to the UAE. For at least one South African principal, the flight he boarded to the capital was the first in his life.

“Everything here looks like they built it yesterday. It’s new, like a new toy,” said Michael, 50, a South African principal. “Compared with where I come from, Cape Town ... it’s incredibly safe.”

Michael, who asked that his surname not be used, said he gave up his job as a public school principal in South Africa so he could earn more.

For South African Vincent Leung, a 28-year-old father of two little children, Abu Dhabi holds the promise of a better life for his young family.

“My main aim is to improve my next generation – it is safer here, there is better education, that is why my wife and I decided to come here,” said Mr Leung, a maths teacher.

For Ms Sayed, the hardest part of the transition was leaving family behind.

“The emotions are there, I saw it on the flight, the ladies were just crying,” she said.

“I had to leave a grandson behind, eight months old. It’s hard.”

But she is also looking forward to starting her new life.

“I know the children are going to be different, but that said, lots of children are the same too. Maybe the culture is a bit different, but hey, I’m here to embrace it.

“It is exhilarating.”

For many teachers who arrived this week, their journey to Abu Dhabi began in February when they applied for jobs