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Emirati teachers in Ras Al Khaimah quit jobs due to low pay

Work pressure, better job offers are other reasons

Ras Al Khaimah — More Emirati teachers as well as administrative and technical staff are quitting from government schools in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah this year.

Official figures show that the RAK Education Zone received 78 resignation letters this academic year (2014/2015) as compared to 73 last year; five more applications.

According to a top educational official, the 78 resignation letters submitted from Emirati and expatriate teaching, administrative and technical cadres included 57 women and 21 men.

Sumaia Abdullah Al Suwaidi, Director of the RAK Education Zone, said 51 out of the 57 resignations letters submitted by women staff were from Emiratis.

“However, only three resignations were submitted by Emirati nationals out of the 21 letters received from male staff.”

The supporting services section at the RAK Education Zone spares no effort to bridge the surprise gaps and find alternative staff in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, she affirmed.

“We have so far recruited 33 new teachers, mostly locals, and assigned up to 122 alternative teachers as well as administrative and technical staff while more classes are temporarily added to the duty of the teachers in service.” Al Suwaidi said most of the resignations submitted were due to retirement requests. “Some others found better paid vacancies.”

“Many resignations were submitted by Master degree holders who opted for higher education.”

Umm Rashid, a technical staff at a preparatory school here, said she resigned due to work pressure.

“I used to return home exhausted with a severe headache almost every day; what for?”

I do not need my salary as my husband is well paid and my pension is fair enough for me, she added. “A friend of mine quit last year and had some peace of mind and feels better.”

Umm Saeed, an Emirati Arabic teacher at a secondary school, said she has just finished her Master’s degree and got a better paid job with the college of Sharia and Arabic language in Ras Al Khaimah.

“This is a turning point in my career with a higher salary, better bonuses and incentives, and more and better allowances.”

Umm Abdullah, an Emirati English teacher with a primary school here, said she could not help submitting her resignation to give more time to her four young children.

“I have tried hard to balance my job as a teacher and my duty as a mother, but could not make it,” she said, calling for flexible working hours to encourage more Emirati women stay in service.

Umm Saleh, an Emirati administrative executive, said she has been working for the ministry of education for the last 15 years, and needed to rest, stop work pressure, and give more time to her family.

“I talked to my husband and we both decided that this is the right time to submit my resignation and take some rest,” she said, noting that many of her friends and fellow teachers have resigned for the same reason.

Umm Mohammed, an Egyptian English teacher, said her husband was fired from his job after the dissolution of the company he was working in, and could not find another opportunity.

“ I cannot stay alone and we have to travel back home.” 

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com