VACANCY INFORMATION

Schools Project English Teacher

Muscat, Oman

Section A
Information about the vacancy
Recruitment Responsibility Richard Frost Date 10 July 2018
Al Wusta and Al
Location Dhahira SAP code OMN1 (H/093)
governates, Oman
Eighteen-month, local
Schools Project
Job Title Job Type country fixed-term
English Teacher
contract
Start Date 1 September 2018 Closing Date 29 July 2018
Advertise job Internal & External Number of posts 3

Job Specific skills, knowledge, qualifications & experience

British Council Oman is recruiting three teachers to work on a schools project starting in September 2018.
This schools project is a community outreach and corporate social responsibility initiative funded by
Occidental of Oman (Oxy) and implemented by the British Council in collaboration with and under the
supervision of the Ministry of Education (MOE) in Oman. The project will provide supplementary English
language training for around 100 children aged 13-17 in four schools located in Al Wusta governate and one
in Al Dhahira governate. In Al Wusta, two teaching posts are available (one male and one female) with one
additional post in Al Dhahira for either a man or a woman.

Al Wusta governate covers a large, sparsely populated area of central Oman (79,700 km2, population
42,111). It consists mainly of gravel desert, salt flats and sand dunes. Al Dhahira governate is smaller than
Al Wusta, and more populous (37,000 km2, population 151,664), with the town of Nizwa, and its more
modern facilities, only a 90-minute drive away. In some areas of both provinces, oil companies have been
granted exploitation rights on land traditionally grazed by local tribes. Teaching contexts in both locations are
remote and the successful candidate will need to be a resilient and self-sufficient individual who is able and
willing to work independently for extended periods of time. The schools involved in this project in Al Wusta
governate are a considerable distance from modern facilities. Occasional respite flights from to Muscat are
included in the package.

Applicants must have a CELTA or Trinity Certificate qualification plus at least two years’ post qualification
experience of teaching English to adults and young learners.

Internal candidates please remember to include the full version of your most recent end-of-year-record of
performance/evaluation and confirm when the system prompts you that you have discussed the application
with both your line and centre manager. Please do not send any applications via email as they will not be
considered.

The closing date for applications is 29 July 2018. Enquiries about the post can be sent to the MENA Regional
Teacher Recruitment team based in Dubai - MENA-TeacherRecruitment@ae.britishcouncil.org

The British Council is committed to a policy of equal opportunity. The British Council is committed to
safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all of its partners to share
this commitment. Appointment to this role is subject to Discolure and Barring Service checks in the UK, and,
where appropriate, equivalent systems overseas. This position is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders
Act 1974 and therefore all convictions, cautions and bind-overs, including those regarded as spent, must be
declared.

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
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Schools Project English Teacher
Muscat, Oman

Local restrictions on employment

Schools Project English Teacher posts are all unaccompanied posts and British Council Oman is unable to
employ anyone who will turn 60 before the end of their initial contract.

Omani customs prohibit unmarried couples from cohabiting, but applications from married couples are
welcome for the Al Wusta posts. It will not be appropriate to bring children.

All expatriate staff must undergo a medical as part of their application for a residence card. This includes a
blood test which screens for HIV, Hepatitis, and TB.

Applicants who are currently based in Oman can apply for these posts but may not be eligible for the all the
benefits/allowances mentioned below (e.g. transfer airfare/baggage allowance)

Section B

Information about the operation in Oman

The British Council has been working in Oman since 1972 and is part of the MENA (Middle East & North
Africa) region and the GCC cluster along with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE. English is
widely spoken in Muscat but its use is extremely limited outside the capital.

The Teaching Centre Staff

The Country Director is also Teaching Centre Manager (TCM), but the Deputy Teaching Centre Manager
(DTCM) is in charge of the day-to-day running of the Teaching Centre with support from a Registrar, three
Academic Managers (Adults, Young Learners and Corporates), two Coordinators and a Teaching Centre
Assistant. Non-academic support is provided by the Resources staff and front-line Customer Services staff.

The students in Al Wusta and Al Dhahira

The students are from grades 8 – 11 (13 – 17 years old). They are keen to learn English but, overall, have a
low level. The school near Ibri is mixed (boys and girls) as are two of the schools in Al Wusta, the other two
are single-sex schools. The students are generally respectful and well-behaved. English is seen as very
important for future study and job opportunites and it is highly-valued by parents.

Section C

Information about the terms and conditions of service (TACOS).

Whilst the information below was accurate at time of writing, specific details and entitlements are
subject to change.

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
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Schools Project English Teacher
Muscat, Oman

Job Overview

Working autonomously with little support, teachers are expected to deliver teaching that is compelling,
effective and relevant to the needs of their students and their learning context. In doing so, teachers support
the wider aims of British Council and its cultural relations mission in Oman.

The post provides an opportunity for teachers to add range and depth to their teaching expereince and, in
particular to gain experience of teaching young learners in an Arabic speaking context. It is also an
opportunity to gain a real life experience teaching English in a remote context the like of which is rarely
available on the network.

This position is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore all convictions, cautions
and bind-overs, including those regarded as ‘spent’, must be declared.

Contract Length 18 months, extendable subject to continuation of the project

Contract Type Country Plus No. of Staff Managed None

Contract Hours 37.5 hours per week Contact Hours 24 hours per week

Salary
Basic salary will be determined in-line with our standard full-time teacher salary scale, in the range 786
OMR to 1027 OMR, depending on qualifications and experience.

Note: The British Council book-keeping rate for February 2018 is £1.00 = 0.54 OMR

Income Tax & National Insurance

Currently no income tax is payable in Oman. However, should this change, the employee will be responsible
for paying paying any taxes imposed by the Government of Oman and the British Council will not adjust your
salary to take account of these.

UK Class 1 National Insurance payments may be compulsory 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 & Travel

We will provide you with a return economy class airfare to/from Oman

Note that in some cases, British Council Oman may only cover transfer airfare costs up to the value of a

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
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Muscat, Oman

flight from the UK and if you transfer directly to another British Council centre at the end of your contract, the
receiving centre will be responsible for your end of contract flight(s).

All expatriates need a visa to work in Oman and this can take up to a month to process. British Council
Oman will sponsor your visa, manage the visa application process and pay for all visa-related costs.

Baggage Allowance
You are entitled to an accountable baggage allowance of up to £1,200

Note that and if you transfer directly to another British Council centre at the end of your contract, the
receiving centre will be responsible for you outward baggage costs.

Leave Allowance
Teachers are entitled to 35 (working) days paid leave per year, plus up to 14 Public/National Holidays.

Teachers normally take 4 weeks leave in Summer, 2 weeks over Christmas, and the rest in smaller blocks
during the academic year. All leave must be agreed with the TCM/DTCM

Medical Allowance
All teachers recruited from outside Oman will be covered by the British Council's international group medical
insurance scheme, currently provided by Allianz.
The scheme covers most medical/hospital treatment and repatriation costs. Dental and optical treatment is
NOT covered by the policy and all staff covered by the scheme have to pay the first GBP 150 of any medical
costs (total, not per claim) incurred during the period for which they are covered and claim the rest from
Allianz (online claim system).
You should check that you are up to date with routine vaccinations before you travel to Oman (Polio booster,
Tetanus etc.) There are no compulsory vaccinations required for travel to or life in Oman, so any related
costs are not covered by the British Council

Important: All expatriate staff take a blood test as part of the process of obtaining a residence card. Please
inform the Recruiting Manager if you have any medical condition that may show up in a blood test.

Settling-In Allowance
Teachers recruited from outside Oman are are entitled to a settling-in allowance that is the equivalent of two
weeks’ basic salary

If your partner, civil partner or spouse is also on a British Council contract, this allowance will be calculated
and payable on the higher salary only.

We can also provide an interest-free loan of up to three months' salary to help with other expenses such as
the cost of buying a car. You must apply for this within the first three months of your employment and
the loan can be repaid over a period of up to 12 months.

Accommodation

Teachers will be provided with shared/furnished accommodation for the duration of their contract.

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
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Schools Project English Teacher
Muscat, Oman

Any Other Allowances

All teachers receive an unaccountable transport allowance of OMR 50 per month

Additional Information

While it is not essential, it can be difficult and expensive to try to get by without your own car and we strongly
recommend that applicants should be able and willing to rent a car while working in Muscat.

Most rental cars are automatic, roads are good, and driving is relatively easy, as is finding your way around
the city. And with a car, you can make the most of Oman’s stunning scenery.

Please note that the above benefits and allowances will vary if the candidate is based in Oman.     

Section D
Information about the place

Country Overview

The Sultanate of Oman is located in the East of the Arabian Peninsula. From Musandam on the Straits of
Hormuz, it is over 1,500 kilometres to the country’s second city, Salalah, close to the border with Yemen.
Oman is a spectacularly beautiful country with dramatic mountain scenery, narrow palm-filled valleys (wadis),
sandy deserts and miles of unspolit beaches. Exploring these on foot or by car (especially) is a favourite
weekend activity for many expatriates and Omanis.
Although you need a four-wheel drive vehicle to get to the more remote areas of the country, a rapidly
expanding network of well-surfaced roads means you can do and see a great deal in a regular car. There are
several beautiful beaches within an hour’s drive of Muscat and you can get to Dubai by car in 6-7 hours.
Omanis are for the most part, soft-spoken, tolerant and welcoming. Living in Muscat, you won’t be unduly
constrained by strict dress-code considerations although it would be unacceptable to wear beach clothes in
shops or on the street. At the British Council, male staff are expected to dress smartly (trousers, shoes, shirt
with collar) and women should dress modestly, covering the tops of their arms and their knees, and taking
extra care to ‘cover up’ in Ramadan.
In short, Oman is a beautiful, easy and safe place to live and work.

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
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Schools Project English Teacher
Muscat, Oman

City Overview
Muscat is home to 1.2 million people a third of whom are Omani. Built on a narrow wedge-shaped strip of
land between the Hajar mountains and Sea of Oman, the capital city stretches 40 km from the Airport in the
west to old Muscat in the east. It is a modern low-rise city and has been attractively developed and
maintained. You are never very far from a beach, a view of the mountains, or a shopping centre!
Personal security is not a issue in Muscat; levels of crime are extremely low. Oman has, to date, been largely
unaffected by fallout from the Arab Spring movement and the ongoing conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, but
there is an ‘underlying threat from terrorism’ in the region and you should be aware of Foreign Office advice
on travel to the region: www.fco.gov.uk

Ministry and Public office hours are from 07.00 to 14.30 Sunday to Thursday, with private companies working
till 17.00 or later. Shops and commercial businesses are normally open Sunday to Thursday 0800 to 1300,
16.00 to 21.00. Banks are open from 08.00 to 13.00.

Climate
Oman has the dubious honour of being one of the hottest countries in the region. Temperatures regularly top
40ºC between May and August, but the winter months from November to March are very pleasant. It is
difficult to spend any length of time oustide during the day in summer, but the weather is less of a trial than
one might expect as homes, cars and all publicbuildings are liberally air-conditioned.
In the summer, the climate in the Dhofar region (Salalah) is much cooler than Muscat because the monsoon
‘khareef’ winds bring cool, moist air (and lots of local tourists) to the region.
Another way to beat the heat is to head inland and up into the Hajar mountains where the temperatures at
2,000m are 10 to 15 degrees lower than in Muscat.

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
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Schools Project English Teacher
Muscat, Oman

General living costs & conditions

In Oman, everyday living costs are broadly speaking in line with other countries in the Gulf and similar to or
slightly higher than the UK (particularly for imported products). Inflation is low although the cost of petrol has
risen significantly over the last year as the government had reduced its fuel subsidy. VAT is likely to be
introduced in Oman and across the GCC in 2018.
Nearly everything you can buy in the UK is available in Oman, including pork products and alcohol. One
supermarket near the British Council (Al Fair) stocks Waitrose products and there are a number of other large
supermarket chains (eg Carrefour, Lulu, AlMeera), located in or next to large shopping malls (Qurum City
Centre, Muscat City Centre, Muscat Grand Mall, Avenues Mall). There are, however, no good bookshops.
The unit of currency is the Omani Rial. RO1/- is divided into 1,000 baisas. Notes are as follows: 50, 20, 10, 5,
1 Rial, 500 baisa, 200 baisa, 100 baisa. Coins exist but are rarely used except for parking meters.
You can change money at banks and licensed money exchanges with low commision. Visa, Mastercard and
AmEx are widely accepted.
Price guide:
weekly food/toiletries shop at Carrefour/Lulu for one: OMR 50-60
monthly home broadband connection: OMR 25/-
capuccino in expensive cafe: OMR 2.0/-
large pizza, coke and service: OMR 5/-
imported cigarettes: OMR 1.200/-
a beer in a hotel: OMR 4.5/-
Big Mac with cheese, fries and coke: OMR 2.5/-
an Indian meal for two: OMR 10/-
petrol - full tank for a 4WD Toyota Landcruiser (500km): OMR 15/-  

General Health, Medical & Dental Care

Many clinics are staffed by European or Indian trained personnel. Private hospitals are generally well-
equipped and the standard of treatment is generally high. Teachers should consult their GP regarding any
vaccinations which might be required for Oman. Pharmacies are well-stocked with international brand
medicines.
Tap water (desalinated) is officially safe to drink though most prefer bottled or mineral water. Large 18-litre
bottles suitable for using with water coolers are available for OMR 1.

Generally the private hospitals in MENA offer a high standard of health care but mental health facilities are often
lacking.

Mental health:
Mental health care is not as readily available in some of the MENA countries as it is in other regions. If you do
suffer from mental illness, please ensure you research care available in the country that you applied for. Some
people find MENA a very challenging country to live in. You should consider carefully your ability (and that of your
family members, if applicable) to cope in a very different culture and working environment. Our team will provide
you with assistance in your professional induction and development but there is limited assistance within the
medical system for those who experience mental health difficulties after they arrive.

We urge all candidates to carry out adequate research on medical health facilities available in the Country you
are apply for with reference to any pre-existing medical conditions. Alternatively, we encourage you to check with
us on your pre-existing medical condition and we can thereafter advise you on whether or not the Country has

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
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Muscat, Oman

the necessary medical support.

Transport & Communication

In Muscat, you really need a car and almost all teachers own or rent one. It is possible to get by without, but
it is not easy, although this is changing. From the airport to Muscat old town, the city stretches for 40
kilometres along the coast and although there is a new public bus service (Mwasalat) operating along the
main Sultan Qaboos highway, public transport is limited and for most of the year it is too hot to walk any
distance or wait outside for a taxi. The good news is that cars are not particularly expensive (to buy or to
rent), roads are good, driving is easy, and petrol is cheap by UK standards. There are some new smart
phone applications that work on an Uber-like basis; these are fairly new but seems to work well and make
begin to provide alternatives to driving.

Oman is the perfect place to drive a 4WD car, with many opportunities to explore the countryside off-road on
graded tracks and up wadis (dry riverbeds). British driving licence holders can rent vehicles on production of
their licence (and a credit card). However, you will need to convert you licence to an Omani licence if you
want to buy a car. For most nationalities, this is a fairly simple process and no test is necessary. Oman is not
a good place to learn to drive and it can be frustrating trying to pass the test. There is at least one ‘manadory
fail’ for non-Omanis.

Taxis are available but they are not metered. An alternative is to use the minibuses (‘baisa buses’) which ply
fixed routes charging a few hundred baisa per trip, but you need to know the routes because the buses are
not numbered and it involves waiting by the roadside.

A flight to Dubai takes 45 minutes and costs OMR 50-100 (return) and a flight to Salalah takes two hours and
costs about the same. There are no rail services in Oman.

Mobile phone use has made landlines virtually obsolete. It is easy to get a SIM and pay as you go, topping up
your credit in supermarkets, shopping malls and petrol station. A home ADSL connection with unlimited
bandwidth costs approximately OMR 25/month.

Any Other Information (Shopping facilities, entertainment, leisure.)

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
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Muscat, Oman

Scuba diving is easy to arrange and some hotels offer day rates for swimming pools/gyms.There are also
many opportunities for indoor exercise and there are independent gyms as well as those based in hotels.

You can eat out in all kinds of restaurants from the very expensive in five star hotels (Lebanese, Japanese,
Mongolian, French, Indian, Italian) to the very cheap in local Asian sub-continent outlets. Alcoholic drinks are
available in hotel bars and licensed restaurants (relatively few and far between).

International banking is available. It is easy to transfer money into and out of Oman. Many banks have ATM
facilities and ATMs are also located e.g. at malls, some petrol stations and some supermarkets.

There are a number of big supermarket chains selling a wide range of imported products. Alcohol is available
to non-Muslim expatriate residents through specialist off licenses (you need a ‘liquor permit’). Pork products
are also available in special sections of stores catering mainly for expatriates. Clothes stores (M&S, GAP,
Zara, etc.) have outlets in the bigger malls, where you can also find a more upmarket ‘designer’ stores.

There are several local English language newspapers: the Oman Daily Observer and the Times of Oman, the
Oman Tribune, Muscat Daily, etc. Other Gulf English language newspapers are widely available. Many British
daily and weekly newspapers can be purchased at leading supermarkets and are accessible on-line. Oman
Today is published every 2 months listing what'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.

Whilst the information above was accurate at time of writing, specific details and entitlements are
subject to change.

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
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