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Post by pvk on Sept 9, 2011 11:05:41 GMT
o there,
I have finished BI and have been told by the agency that the visa will be stamped as soon as they hear from Aramco about school admissions for my kids. I will be Abqaiq working in DH.
Now there are two things. Firstly my preference is for Indian curriculum schools which are off camp. These schools might not provide an admission now as it is mid-session. I might also decide not to disturb my kids during this academic year and bring them over after completion of this academic year.
I filled up the Aramco school forms to keep both options available as I am not aware of the ground realities there.
Grateful if somebody could provide some guidance.
Thanks & Regards,
pvk
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Post by henpecked on Sept 9, 2011 14:55:00 GMT
Hi Pvk Humm. Quite a few points here: Firstly, I would be very surprised if any schools here denied your children admission because it is mid-session, schools here are very accustomed to people coming and going and usually try to get the kids into class as soon as possible after arrival in Kingdom (this applied to both Aramco and off-camp schools) Secondly, which schools are you looking at? I would imagine your nearest Indian Curriculum school would be in Al-Khobar, about a 1:30 hour commute from Abqaiq, though I could be wrong. As far as transport to school goes, obviously the Aramco school is on-site so this would not be an issue. as far as I'm aware the only Aramco school bus running from Abqaiq to Al-Khobar is the one going to The Academy (American curriculum high school) and DBGS (British curriculum)which is on the same site. Finally you may want to check in your employee pack whether Aramco will pay for off camp schooling - it varies from payroll to payroll. Best of luck.  |
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Post by pvk on Sept 14, 2011 15:34:30 GMT
Hi Henpecked,
I checked my documents and it says that off-camp school expenses will be paid by the company. I could locate only one school in Dammam with Indian curriculum and they have school bus from Abqaiq.
Now I need to evaluate if it would be worthwhile wasting 2 additional hours of the kid's valuable time in just commuting and also find out if I could get an admission mid term. With that a major part of relocation is settled.
I have another question i.e if I decide not to disturb my kids during this academic year and keep my family back home, do I get to keep the already approved family status so that I can get them over when the academic session ends.
Thank you for your inputs. BTW do ppl put their kids in Bahrain boarding schools.....
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Post by henpecked on Sept 14, 2011 19:21:57 GMT
Hi Pvk
The family status rule is usually that the wife needs to be 'In Kingdom' for 180 days per calendar year, it is quite normal for the wife and family to come a few months after the husband so that he can sort out paperwork, transport and a few home comforts before they come. So the decision to leave your kids at their current school until the end of the semester would not be unusual.
Yes, people do send their kids to Bahrain where weekly boarding is available, if your kids are 17 or 18 there is also a new International Bacc course available at The Academy but I think they would probably want you to start in September (the start of the American and British school year).
Hope this helps
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