Teachers head for Middle East as jobs at home dry up

A Scottish recruitment agency has reported a surge in high quality teachers heading for schools in countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Recruitment agency Worldteachers was set up in Renfrewshire in 2009 to feed the demand for overseas jobs specifically in the Middle East.

It has sent more than 50 fully qualified teachers to the region and only two of the 20 who went in the company's first year have returned to Scotland.

Roddy Hammond, Worldteachers chief executive, said Middle Eastern schools are attracted by the high work ethic and positive attitude of Scots teachers.

He said a key attraction for employers was the "strong training and reputation of the Scottish education system".

David Throp, the principal of the Cambridge School in Doha, Qatar, said: "I have been surprised at the high quality of young teachers that have been trained in the Scottish system recently.

"They are able, articulate, well trained and have a range of skills not seen in many students from elsewhere. Most of all, they have proven to be adaptable to new situations, curricula and working practices."

Figures last summer showed less than a third of new teachers were able to find a job in 2010.

A survey by the profession's regulator, the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS), showed the number gaining permanent employment fell to 30 per cent from 39.5 per cent in 2009, suggesting that only 900 or so of the 3,013 teachers who qualified found a full-time position.

The figures prompted the Scottish Government to slash teacher training places.

The GTCS annual employment survey quizzed teachers across the country and found more than a quarter this year, 26.5 per cent, had only ever had temporary work.

Mr Hammond admitted the Middle East did not suit everyone with its different management cultures and extreme heat. However, he said the move was not necessarily negative as it meant people were staying in the profession.

He said most Scots plan to return after three to five years.

The GTCS recently reported that 347 Scottish teachers found work in England in 2010 - the highest figure on record and 13 per cent up on the previous year.

However, the Scottish Government says its statistics show the numbers of teachers claiming unemployment benefit fell last year.

In October 2010 there were 510 Jobseekers Allowance claimants in Scotland looking for jobs as teachers compared with 575 in September 2010 and 560 in October 2009.

'Challenging, stressful, but I have no regrets'

JONNY Parr admits the warmer weather was an attraction when he took up a teaching post in Qatar.

The 27-year-old says his decision was made after he felt he needed a greater challenge.

He said: "My life in Scotland was lacking challenge and the job situation in Scotland is very difficult. I always intended to work overseas at some stage and the opportunity came when I got a post as a PE teacher in Doha, Qatar.

"The attraction? New culture, new lifestyle, good weather, tax-free salary.

"Also, my location allows me to visit other areas of the world more easily and cheaply.

"Like many other schools, mine does have its problems, particularly regarding the management - schools in Doha are run like businesses.

"However, the children are fantastic and all come from different backgrounds - Indonesia, Egypt and Sri Lanka, for example - making the job more challenging, varied and fun.

"I've spent a year here and it's been at times challenging and stressful. But I most definitely do not regret my decision."