I am currently going through the pre-employment checks for a position teaching ESL in a UAE government agency which aims to upskill the Emirati workforce for the future. I have two children age 10 and 12, and during the interview, I was very firm in saying that I would only consider positions in either Dubai or Abu Dhabi as I needed to be around international schools and other expat families. They seemed to accept this and I was offered the position.
However, after doing a bit more internet digging, it turns out that there is a clause in the contract which states that the employer has the right to move the employee to any location at any time. I've read a couple of horror stories on forums about teachers who have had to pay deposits for apartments again after being forced to relocate by this employer. For me, as I have two kids, there is also the issue of a disruptive school move to consider if I was ever pushed to reIocate during the time of the contract. I put this to my recruiter and stated that I was not comfortable with this and asked if the clause could be removed. They replied that people with children in schools are 'less likely' to be asked to move but that the clause would not be removed.
I am not a licensed teacher, although I am just finishing up a contract in a 2nd tier international school in Malaysia. My background is in ESL, which I have been teaching for 18 years, and I have just completed a PhD in Applied Linguistics which I did by Distance while working over the past few years. Given the age of my children I am looking for my next move to be one that provides some stability in a country with lots of international families and plenty of socialising for me (I am a single mother). Despite the fact that this particular employer, if internet reviews are accurate, does appear to be a bit of a shambles and teaching on this type of project in the UAE will mean dealing with many unmotivated and undisciplined students, I am long in the tooth and experienced enough to be able to handle it and make the best of it if it means that my kids are in a good international school and we have a bit of spare cash to have some fun.
I am also applying for positions at UK universities, but on a single salary, there wouldn't be much less at the end of the month. I am also concerned about standards in state education back home and I think international school life best suits my children. However, the job market just doesn't seem to be working much in my favour at the moment.
So, I would really like to know if anyone knows anything about this or can offer any advice. Would you take the risk and go for it? Would you refuse to sign unless the clause was removed and risk losing the position? Do any of you based in the UAE know anyone who this has happened to.
I just want o make a sensible decision, but feeling quite stressed and confused just now. I'd appreciate any words of wisdom.