Maursh
Senior Member
Posts: 169
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Post by Maursh on Sept 9, 2013 21:14:47 GMT
Hi All,
Thank you so much to everyone who runs and contributes to this wonderful forum. It has been an amazing source of first hand information for me over the past few weeks and really helped with the decision making process.
We are in the late throes of sorting out the paperwork following my husbands acceptance of a position. We have an initial allocation of the new Al Rakkah compound which seems very nice.
We are a British family and have just one two and a half year old who currently attends nursery full time, about 50 hours per week since we both work, full-time. Facilities for our daughter are becoming a growing concern for us since she really loves going to nursery and is not going to be at all happy staying at home all the time. Here are my questions, in no particular order:
1) There is very little information coming out about the nursery on site in Al Rakkah. It seems that it is just for three and four year olds and then feeds into the elementary school in Dharhan. Is this correct? Is it likely that the nursery will take two year old anytime soon (if they are dry?)
2) Of the families who are already in situ in Al Rakkah, are any electing to send their children to either of the British Schools. What are the respective travel times to BISAK and the British Grammar? How does this compare to the travel time to the school at Dharhan Hills?
3) Are there any British families who have elected to send their children through the Aramco schools who would care to share the basis for their choice. Any concerns about different curriculum and integrating back into the UK education system afterwards?
4) Does the EAP cover the fees for the British Schools locally? The programme guide talks about suitable education not being available locally, so this is not clear. Will it cover the cost from the age of three or just from when formal schooling starts?
5) Any insights into options for professional women working out there? When we started down this avenue we were told that things had changed a lot in Saudi in the last ten years and that married women could work. Now that we are so far into the process, we are receiving lots of mixed messages on this. Any first hand experiences?
If you have got this far in my post, then thank you for reading. Any responses would be greatly appreciated.
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Post by vpainter on Sept 10, 2013 1:08:35 GMT
1. Aramco schools are by age. At this time 2 years old are not accepted unless age 3 by August 31 of the school year. Currently only pre 3 and pre 4's. There will probably be moms on Rakkah getting together for play groups.
2. I know there are families talking about sending their kids to the British Schools, some have been on the forum, so hopefully someone will have information for you. The British School in Dhahran area is about 10 mins from the Dhahran Jr. High and about 15 mins from the Dhahran Elementary School.
3. The British employees who have talked to me have said there is not a problem going to the Aramco Schools if you are staying the entire school time. I do not know if that means through the 9th grade, or through 12th grade. The International Schools Group Dhahran has an IB Diploma High School Program as part of the Dhahran High School. Or the students go out to boarding school anywhere in the world. Hopefully someone can answer you completely.
4. Yes, for British Students EAP covers or helps pay for tuition at the Dhahran British School for sure, I do not know if they cover the one in Khobar. Aramco provides bus service to the Dhahran British School from DHA. I understand it is being talked about providing a bus to that school from Rakkah. I do not think it is in place at this time. It was covering the formal school years K - 9. I do not know if it covers pre school age children, now that Aramco has Preschools.
5. Once a spouse is in Kingdom, she can apply through HR for any position she is qualified for. The process for hiring a spouse also requires patience and approvals. Some spouses work outside Aramco in the local community. Depending on the company, you may not receive the same vacation time as the husband, you would receive that benefit working for Aramco. The hiring process for spouses can take 6 months to years. Dhahran has more spouses who also work for Aramco than the other compounds. Some spouses do home based businesses, that is another option depending on what you do.
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Post by azraeil on Sept 10, 2013 4:47:40 GMT
For those on Sterling payroll, Aramco will pay 100% tuition fees for in-kingdom schooling from Reception to Year 13. Doesn't matter if it's in the DBGS or BISAK, the tuition fees are covered 100%
For Out of Kingdom school, the EAP is up to GBP25500 for full boarding from Reception to Year 13.
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Post by Hadia on Sept 10, 2013 4:55:03 GMT
Hi. Not sure what your professional field is, but if you are in education, you could create an instant career by opening a well run preschool. I'm sure the demand will continue to grow as the camp fills, and more moms with the right experience could be recruited to work with you.
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Maursh
Senior Member
Posts: 169
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Post by Maursh on Sept 10, 2013 21:55:40 GMT
Thank you very much for all the replies.
I am not in education , sadly, because there seem to be many opportunities in the area. I work in insutional investment management. Aramco have a department for their pension fund with suitable jobs posted online and I thought they would bite my arm off, but they haven't expressed the slightest interest and I have been asked to submit my CV on three separate occasions. I honestly don't know if this is owing to heaps of suitably qualified candidates or owing to some policy concerning women with young children. This was the party line given to me, that I could look at part-time or voluntary work to fit around school hours, that I could work for another firm only if we lived off compound.
My husband is not on sterling payroll - he holds an Irish passport. Does this change things as far as the EAP is concerned?
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Post by vpainter on Sept 11, 2013 0:04:25 GMT
Wives are not usually interviewed for a position if the husband is being hired. Wives have to be in kingdom prior to applying.
There are Aramco wives working for other companies who live on the compound with husband and family.
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Post by azraeil on Sept 11, 2013 5:12:15 GMT
Maursh,
He will be in the Euro Payroll. I'm not sure the policies for In-Kingdom schooling but I can check.
Edit: The in-kingdom eligibility and covee is the same. I am not sure what is the latest maximum amount for Euro Payroll for Out of Kingdom boarding.
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Post by Wrig38 on Sept 26, 2013 22:37:46 GMT
Great info on the forum...thanks. Having previously worked in KSA (Jubail 1998-2001) I'm familiar with the country from past experience. I've had email confirmation of an offer in either Dhahran, Abquaiq or RT. The key to accepting the position is to follow the 'Aramco' dream which wasn't available when I was looking in 2001.....so it's all about schooling and the work -life balance. I've read a lot of comments about a battle to get a Dhahran based assignment for the British school, this sounds like this will be the decision maker for my family also.
Just a couple of other questions.....I'm assuming we can all arrive together in Kingdom?..... It took me 6 months to get the correct visas last time, so I'm assuming this is a lot better organised when working for Aramco.
Apologies for the unrelated question below, frost time post for me on any forum.
J.Wright
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Post by vpainter on Oct 1, 2013 1:49:15 GMT
Your recruiter/relocation guide will be able to tell you if you can all arrive together. Some employees now are required to 1. Arrive first then apply for family visas 2. Come first and complete the 90 days probation period.
I do not know which one of the 3 you will be offered.
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Post by Wrig38 on Oct 8, 2013 22:26:47 GMT
Thanks.... Don't think this will be an option.....I've got the full details of the offer... RT base.....after my experience last time and having seen some nationalities arrive together I would need this option.
Recently posted another question on exit re entry visas.... Assume everyone gets them now?....also.....are British children typically getting transport to Brit schools in Dhahran and Khobar?..... That's something we would like to do also.
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Post by RocCity on Nov 1, 2013 4:50:11 GMT
o,
This is more of a question, I was wondering if there is any talk of possibly opening an elementary school or maybe a kindergarten throught 5th grade in Rakkah? Now or in the near futue?
Thank you,
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Post by vpainter on Nov 2, 2013 5:05:44 GMT
Actually during the first few meetings on the compound, they thought there would be a preschool and Kindergarten in Rakkah. Then it changed to just Preschool. Never any talk of putting grades 1 - 5 there. But may be something that could happen in the future.
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Post by Hadia on Nov 2, 2013 11:50:24 GMT
Very recent changes have been announced for EAP. Ninth graders will now have the option of going out to boarding school. Employees now shoulder more of the costs for boarding school. This came about as a rather sudden announcement to parents who were already in the midst of identifying schools and arranging interviews. There's a base salary formula and max amounts that are different, which doesn't always work favorably for the families who were expecting the previous process. Not sure which payrolls it addresses; someone more familiar with this EAP change might comment.
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Post by azraeil on Nov 3, 2013 10:16:39 GMT
Hadia,
It adresses all payrolls. EAP is now standardized for all payrolls. The formula is simple, whatever happens, employee will have to shoulder 10% of the tution fees. There is also a formula where the maximum amount of EAP assistance will be based on Base Salary x Y month, 90% of Tuition Fees up to Maximum EAP whichever is "lowest".
This new policy will be effective starting the 2014-2015 academic year but those who are already using the EAP can choose to be grandfathered to the old policy for 4 years starting next year. Those who choose to take EAP for 2014-2015 can also opt for the old policy (up to 4 years) which is why the company has lowered the requirement for the American payroll whereby they can send their kids from Grade 9 starting from the 2104-2015 academic year (4 years grandfathered policy, will ensure your child will be able to complete high school on the old policy).
Startin 2015-2016 academic year, all new EAP application will be on the new policy.
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