Compass international school

Kiara

If you are still looking for a place for your children, you may be interested in a brand new British school - Compass International School, Al Khor. It is entirely separate from Compass Doha and was opened this January. If you are planning on living at the Pearl, it will be convenient for you because there is bus service for your children directly from the Pearl. There are fifteen nationalities in the student population and quite dedicated teachers. (I am one of them!!) You can feel free to ask me any questions you like.

:)

Anna

Good luck to all parents who are trying to find a good school for their child. I'd certainly agree with that.

Back to the OP's message...

Good luck in finding the school you will be happy with.

I am very pleased that your daughter is at the American School of Doha, Minoush. I have heard some very good things about this school and the facilities are excellent. The teachers seem to be a happy and well-motivated goup of professional international educators. Therefore I am quite prepared to believe that the Arabic and Islamic teachers at ASD do a good job. Unfortunately, Minoush, not every child is at the American School and not every parents can afford the ASD's high school fees. The children in my class, both Muslim and non-Muslim, find their Arabic lessons rather boring and their Islamic Studies lessons equally insipid. I have heard similar comments from other students at other schools in Doha.

You have suggested that I should "open up my mind a little bit". Are you actually suggesting that Islamic Studies lessons actually encourage the children to open up their minds? Is discussion and the answering of questions actually encouraged within Islam? Don't you know that the punishment for apostasy from Islam is death? (Check it out on Wikipedia, if you don't believe me.) How does this fit in with American values, such as democracy, life, liberty and the pursuit of happpiness?

If your daughter is making excellent progress in her Arabic lessons, then I am very pleased for you and for your daughter. However, some children find even the English language rather difficult. Obviously your daughter is not dyslexic, but English lessons can be very hard for children who are. Expecting children who are already struggling with the English language to learn another language, and one that is so very different to English, is not just "hard", Minoush. It is tantamount to child abuse. When Arabic is taught in a way that is dull, inspiring and tedious, then children are not being given a stimulating intellectual challenge but a monumental waste of their time and their parents' money. The Supreme Education Council are pressing for more Arabic lessons, not less, although no doubt the American School will find ways round the SEC's ruling. My school will probably have to fall into line with the SEC's decision and my students will suffer as a result.

wow, hippo..relax. My daughter who is 10 and is "western" is learning Arabic intensively. It's challenging but not impossible. Why not have her become fluent in one of the most in demand languages? She will have her pick of many jobs (Foreign Service, State Deptarment, overseas opportunities) back home being fluent in Arabic, plus it will help her get into college. The teachers at ASD who teach Arabic do not teach in "dull, tedious" ways. In fact it's quite the opposite.

Have you actually sat in the Islamic classes to witness this? Do you think this is how Islamic classes will be taught in all schools?

As you state.. " More Islamic Studies lessons does not mean learning "more about the different religions of the world". It means learning about only one religion, Islam.."

Well Duh, it's called Islamic studies-of course it's going to be only about Islam.

Why are you so afraid of a "western" child learning Arabic or learning about Islam? Open your mind a little bit and stop being afraid of everything....

Just because something is hard doesn't mean we shouldn't bother learning it or doing it... What an example you are teaching. "It's too hard! So don't try it!"

No, Minoush, you are mistaken. Nearly all schools in Doha already have lessons in Arabic and Islamic Studies. The SEC want to dramatically increase the number of lessons that children have in these subjects. Many "western" children find Arabic to be a very difficult language to learn and it is often taught in a very tedious, dull and imaginative way. More Islamic Studies lessons does not mean learning "more about the different religions of the world". It means learning about only one religion, Islam, and the Islamic Studies teachers do not encourage their students to be open-minded, tolerant and to ask questions. Does learning verses of the Qu'ran by heart really help children to understand and appreciate Buddhism and Judaism? Somehow I do not think so.

It seems to me that you have made a distinction between "independent" schools and "private" schools. Are you suggesting that the private schools are not independent? Are you saying that the independent schools are not private? What are you suggesting? Will all expat teachers be able to understand your distinction, I wonder?

Again, you may have to cough up extra fees to switch in the middle of the year, but it's pretty much the only way to get into the school of your choice. You should see how many kids leave Doha in the course of a year and there are open spots at ASD. One time there were 7 open spots for 4th grade in October. That's unheard of in the summer or the beginning of the year.

I think it's good to have kids learn Arabic and have Islamic studies. The language would benefit all kids and everyone should learn more about the different religions in the world- especially the one they're living amongst.

I also think the salary cap is for the independent schools, not the private schools like Compass and ASD.

Having spoken to quite a few frustrated parents, it seems to me that the problem of finding a school place for your child seems to be getting worse. As usual, the Supreme Education Council are making the problem worse by threatening a cap on teachers' salaries and the introduction of even more Arabic and Islamic Studies. These measures are just what most expat parents and teachers DON'T need.

I think compass will require u to pay the whole year fees in advance. Expensive but not too bad. ASD, ACS, compass and sherbourne are the more expensive schools.

Grazie fabbry1972,

We actually called them one and a half week ago and we were told that my children applications were still in process but in a few days they would have let us know the response. By now we didn't receive any news! We will try to call them again Sunday...maybe we will be luckier.

Just to add it was not only a choice dictated for a matter of building also related to number of children and assistants per class and obviously a comparison of costs.

Hi Kiara,i applied at ACS in March and when i did the school tour in April i was told they accepted the youngest at PreK3 and that there was a waiting list for the oldest for k and they finally confirmed both just last week.

If i were you i would call them to have news becouse as for my experience they have lots of mail caming.

Hi fabbry1972, you were lucky you could visit the schools before decide, unfortunately we are coming for a pre-view only in middle of June and by that time we have to have a very clear idea where to send them. All I know is that facilities and building at ACS is another world, much better then Compass. By the way we are still waiting for the answer from ACS, we were told that for K4 there is a wait list and my youngest should go exactly in K4 so I don't know. I just hope they can reply sooner as possible...Can I ask you when did you send the applications for your daughters? And how long they took to reply? Now is almost 3 weeks I'm waiting...

I'm very curious why Compass is getting such a hard rap?

ACS is a much better choice than Compass. Even though it's new to doha, it is very promising and parents are quite happy.

Ciao Kiara,

i'm italian too moving to Doha at the end of July, my wife and daughters 5 and 3, will follow 1 month later, at the moment we got places both at Compass al Rayyan and at ACS school and we have chosen the ACS.We went to visit both school at the end of April and we had better impression from ACS then Compass. I think the second is too expensive for what is offering, but it's a personal consideration.

Minoush's approach ( unfortunatley) is a good recommendation. Compass is fine for a second choice - there are a lot lot worse. You might even find youa are happy there anyway

Compass is a backup school when you can't put your kids anywhere else. Enroll them there, then register your kids at the school you really want to attend. Once a spot opens, pull them from Compass. You will never get a spot at your favored school at the beginning of the year, the best bet is to wait unitl an opening comes available in the middle of the year. Yes, you may have to pay double tuition for a semester, but it's the only way to get a spot.

u will definately miss the night life in MY.

Thanks for the replies!

@amitsen.amitsen: there are "pro and con" in both country...belive me! Anyway I will miss a lot Malaysia!

Malysia is good country,, green, good climate with rains etc.. soft people.. less traffic..

on the other hand.. Qatar is dusty, vvvv.hot 50 deg temp.. humid.. totally dry.. no rains.. desert...toooooooooooo much traffic.. and so on..

so if at all you r coming .. you shd come for money only.. and you loose your life..

think before .. you shd get atleast three times the money what u get now

It's expensive but go for it. Heard is a good school as well.

Compass is better