Beware! Both New and Old Canadian Employees of QP

Hello. I'm in the process of moving to Doha and work for QP. As a Canadian and having talked to an current QP Canadian employee, I came to know that QP still pays tuition fees for Canadian students for American schools like ASD (even though there is a Canadian school there).

Can any Canadian currently working at QP confirm this? Thanks

Thnx for encouraging words roots, however I still need to be sure at the HR level. I cannot compel you but if in future if I need a reference like this to prove to HR the case you just quoted of your canadian friends, would I be able to PM you and you can ask your friends to contact me to help in this situation (rather I ask you for their contacts..?)

Here's the info on the Canadian School

"We are a Kindergarten to Grade 9 school, in our fourth year of operation, and follow the Alberta Program of Study, the internationally renowned learning outcomes and standards of instruction."

http://www.qcs.edu.qa/ is the website

Signature line > "You can't fix stupid"

Humanbeing...i know its Hurts which company treats you like Nobdy..Canadian school have Nova Scotia currirculum,,i i think American school of doha is much better,, did u personaly visit Candian school its in a Villa, they dont have much of the staff and the fees is way to high. on other hand America school is high to but school much more organised, CHoefat is another good option, its sylabus is Internation so mixer of American and canadian..and beleieve me it doesnt realy matters which sylabus the kids are following aslong as they are comfortable and doing well in their grades..best of luck

"Don't Touch what you can't AFFORD"

Translator ,

Nop. Two of them just started in 2009.

Cheers

Roots, is it possible that the children of your friends' were in the american school "before" the canadian school opened?

Rookie17,

You can send your children to American School and QP will pay the full amount. But if you want send your children to the Canadian School, QP is also okay with that, which will be less money for them. My collegue's (who is a Canadian) 3 children go to American school, and my friend's (also a canadian) two children also go to American School and QP pays full amount for that. So if you're a Canadian, you are good to send your children to American School.

Cheers

This thread is 4 years old so I am sure the Canadian school has been up and running for some time now. As far as I am aware QP still operates schooling based on nationality, which to me makes perfect sense.

You will not become a Qatari citizen so at some point you will go to your home country and your children will need to follow the education standards from that country.

As for the comment its discrimination pay all employees and allowance that does not ring true either. What do you suggest pay 5000 QR so for Indian employees the cost of schooling is covered but other Nationalities through no fault of their own have to pay their own fees? Or pay a higher allowance so the Indian employee can make extra money each month?

I appreciate some nationalities would like to send their children to British or American schools but an American or Canadian can't really send their children to a Filipino or Indian school, its not a feasbile choice.

Still being followed. You can send your children to any school you wish, however, they wil only compensate you as if your children are at the Canadian School. Do the math, it might work fine based on the number of children, and the school you intend to send them to.

I wanted to know whether this policy of nationality schools is still being followed at QP. If someone can give a latest insight, that will be a major help as I am considering acceptance of an offer however if they compel me to send my kids to a specific school based upon my nationality than I better think over it again.

Can please someone help, will be greatly apprecitiated

tg,

Issue is not whether my chiildren are studying in british school or in any other school nor whether british school is better than indian or any other school.

Issue is whether it is fair for companies to pay employees children education assistance as QR 40000/child/yr (American school doha)on one side, QR 36000/yr/child (Doha college) on another side and QR 5000/yr/child for indian or other community schools. In my opinion, it is discrimination. If it is not than either I or you do not know the correct meaning of the word discrimination. Companies may pay different salaries to different people as per their qualifications and experience but I do not think it is appropriate to discriminate (I am not sure which other word to use) in children education. I think it would be best to give employees a fixed amount per year as education assistance as let parents decide which school they wish to send their children.

I must be really getting old as you said. I am sorry about HB frustration.

Only Love & Respect of Others Makes us Human.

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If you look at the first message posted by HB, this is exactly what (he or she) meant.

We all got a little lost over time. This is a clear sign of getting old.

I think u post in anger ...and Dweller got the blame because he advised on something :-) Dweller no longer lived in Doha, whatever he advice was based on his knowledge while he was here and working for QP.

However i suggest you to check it yourself with QP Human Resources. I think QP very famous with 'take it or leave it'. If you don't like their regulation either you stay and suck it up or leave and find another job.

PS: Does the Canadian school really that bad?

Please read and try to understand my previous comments even if it's not your mother tongue

HB,

I dont understand you. You are picking up on advice and advisors. It seems that its risky to even advise you.

It seems you are new to the site. Try and edit your post and repost it, it will come up with the new time. Thats what happened in Case of Dwellers' post.He posted earlier and I commented on it and then he edited.

If you dont like anyone's advice you are free not to follow it. I thought you have been cautioned to be cool and logical not threatened.

Only Love & Respect of Others Makes us Human.

---------------------------------------------

Well, I will agree with dweller.

Some stories are really shocking ;-)

He has a point. I think, we leave it here. There is no point discussing it further anyway.

by the way what are you trying to convey on this forum?

first you said qp pays everything, then you changed and opened up a little and said why qp should pay?

then again you came and advised to go sort it out yourself.

now you are threatening us that this is gulf and anyone who raise his/ her voice is going to be punished? please do not stereotype and insult people.

on top of that you are all harassing qhell to do not take hb side, otherwise he will bear the the same consequence!

are you educating me on how to live and behave in qatar?

i am sure either you are enjoying yourself by posting your logics in the mid of night or you are trying to covey a different message through this channel.

anyways,

its strange how “tg” appraised you “keeping cool and being logical” at 8:10pm while you posted your original message at “8:18pm” with the same wording “keeping cool and being logical” for the first time from your side on the forum.

great job.

enjoy your time from turkey and please do not explain this time why you are up so late!

i am done with you.

May I suggest that you take up this issue with HR (and I don't mean the Clerks)

The pre K child I don't think will qualify for school fees but I don't know. If he/she does then I am sure something could be worked out.

We had kids going to two different schools (Junior and Senior) and it's not an insurmountable problem.

Can I also suggest that you don't get heated with HR. It may result in an equivalent response from HR.

I am sure that HB would receive a reasonable response if he wasn't (apparently) so bombastic.

The art of survival in the Gulf is to keep your cool and be logical

Wow,

You reminded me of that Wacky (or tacky) cafe on Jebel Hafeet. Have they improved it?? Did you stand in the queue for the male toilet there? Nothing much on the jebel hafeet except the Cafe. But the drive is good and Al-Ain City itself looks greener and better than Commercial Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

Great words on keeping cool and being logical.

Only Love & Respect of Others Makes Human.

------------------------------------------

Here is a senario:

One kid is ready to go to pre-k

second to grade-3

3rd to grade-8

I have received a "Draft" prospectus of the school and if one is in the above situation, he will be sending his kids to 3 different schools not because of the educational requirements, but because of a nonsense policy!!!

QB.

Being primarily a man of leisure, I don't have to be up for work in the mornings. I tend to use the net at night as the speeds are better and I can access it from the roof where it's peaceful and still quite warm.

I also get a wonderul view over the bay.

I was beginning to think I had gone nuts!

Abu Dhabi was fine thanks tg but reminded me of why I went into semi-retirement in Turkey.

I don't think I will be venturing out again but who can tell?

I was actually in Doha for a couple of hours on a visa trip.

BTW I think they are spoiling Jebel Hafeet, there's a whacking great cafe in the top car park. If I can find the pic I will post it.

yeah dweller is great. All can learn a lot from him in regards to QP. He is just trying to be helpful.

HB,

Cool Down. Dweller is an old hand on QL and he is widely respected by his wise advice to all the members about QP and Qatar in general. Welcome back dweller.How was your stay at Abu Dhabi??

abc150,

If you wish your children to Stay at British School thats your choice.Its not discrimination.

first124

No Indian schools dont suck. The very fact that almost half of the Engineers at Major Departments( I am not sure of the exact percentages before I am hanged for it) at QP are from India would tell you that the Education system is fine and the salaries are not different in QP based on Educational system.

No one has replied to your email yet.

Also, DWeller is posting his comments from turkey at 2:44am.

Its funny.

HB,

I think you are very lucky to have your national school open here in Qatar, I would be very happy if an Aussie school opened up here, with Aussie teachers and curriculum, and as previously posted if you where in Canada you kids would be in a Canadian school, I cannot see why you are complaining?.

As a side issue and some history, in 2002 a group of Canadian QP employees complained about going to the American school and wanted their children in DESS, claiming DESS was closer to the Canadian system, the real reason was that DESS had the Nursery class that started at 4 years old and this group wanted to start there children in school earlier, the funny thing is that DESS is cheaper than the American school. QP obliged these employee but promptly change their policy moving the starting age out to 5 years which affected many other Employees myself included (this has now changed back to 4 years), so before a Canadian school started in Qatar a Canadian had a choice between British and American systems. There is nothing malicious in the QP system, they are not smart enough to be, they are just blindly following the policy.

Is this not a threat in a public forum from someone who claims to be a “former” employee? This clearly says how things are handled!

I don't know what it is with HB, he seems to have a chip on his shoulder.

HB As I have said before (and it's in my profile which you have admittedly read) I no longer work for QP but was for some considerable time involved in issues of policy and C&B. I trust that you are enjoying the WIA if you are Canadian?

Yes I do live in Turkey (but recently returned from Abu Dhabi on a contract) and joined this site to offer what I thought would be reasonable advice. If you don't want it fair enough. You won't change the system in Qatar and if you try then sad to say that you won't last long!

I have been honest (unlike yourself) with my profile. I assume that you do work in QP but suspect that with your aggressive attitude you may not for much longer.

I still feel that my argument is valid.

If people think indian schools sux, why do not they ask indian school to raise their fees and then indian employees in qp will be allowed to choose whatever school they want to go to!!!

Only Love & Respect of Others Makes Human.

------------------------------------------

Here is a senario:

One kid is ready to go to pre-k

second to grade-3

3rd to grade-8

I have received a "Draft" prospectus of the school and if one is in above situation, he will be sending his kids to 3 different schools not because of the educational requirements, but because of a nonsense policy!!!

we left qp last year after 4 year of service. they played the same game with us when it came to our kids education at ASD. my husband got fed up dealing with clerks and resigned. job relates to your color!

good luck you guys.

my husband still gets upset when remember those nonsense days.

You ppl need to read again what dweller wrote. I am Canadian, and in way, shape or form feel he was discriminating against anything! Only trying to be helpful and then getting bashed for it!

dweller can post here anytime he likes and is most welcome to do so. This is something that he is well aware though, and somthing you have yet to learn...

My three children are studying in British curriculum school whereas I get paid for a cheap school (my community school). I pay QR 20000 per year per child whereas I get paid QR 5000 in return as education assistance. This is happening for last 5 years.

Do you really think education imparted for QR 20000/yr shall be as good as QR 5000/yr (This question is for dweller). This curriculum b*** s*** just used to be a way of companies to discriminate against asian employees and give extra to western. It seems now that canadians are also getting hurt with this policy. I think they (HR) will again devise some way of giving what canadians want and still discriminate against asians. So dont worry HB, your worries shall soon be resolved.

I just don't want to share my personal info with people who pretend to be living in Turkey, but spend their whole day dedicated to a local community website :-)

Get out, enjoy your life. You are in Turkey!!!

If you confirm that you are presently working for QP HR then I will reply back to your comments on this forum or otherwise.

Leave us alone, we will sort out our community issues here locally. I don't understand, what is the trigger of your participation in this discussion?!?

I have checked your profile and your postings but they don't tell me anything about you so what have you got to hide?

If your kids were in Canada would they not go to a Canadian school. I am not discriminating against Canadians.

You could always send your kids to the American school and pay the balance yourself. The choice is yours, but why expect the company to pick up the tab?

What is no longer valid? I don't want to be part of an experiment I am just being reasonable.

BTW there are Indians who send their kids to English schools, but they only get the fees paid for the Indian School. They made a personal choice as also can you.

So, it should be our choice to select one of the two community schools or even a british or some other school to send our kids to?

Its no longer valid. You are stuck with a new establishment. If you want to part of experienments, go ahead.

By the way - your comments are not helpful. It is a try to justify a open discrimination against Canadians!

Slow down HB.

I'm not sure what you mean.

"Well it is" do you mean that it has changed?

"How can I say it is not" What am I saying "is not"?

Yes, I did work for QP for many years, in HR (C&B).

I'm not looking for an argument, just trying to be helpful.

All schools have to start somewhere, as did the Doha College so don't be too critical. It's only by you supporting the school that it will develop.

The reason for using the Canadian School is not purely financial, it is that the school will follow the Canadian curriculum. When you return to Canada, your children can then continue their education on that same curriculum.

I'm not Brenda by the way, I was just posting Brenda's info for your reference.

Well it is.

How can you say its not?

Do you work for QP HR?

If this is so, can I share your comments with others :-)

HB

I don't think it's changed. If there is a Canadian school then QP will pay for it.

When there was no American School, QP paid for Americans to attend the British School. When there was no Philipino school, they (Philipinos) had a choice of being paid for their kids to attend the American or British Schools. When the Philipino school opened, they were paid for that school which is significantly less than the US or British Schools.

If the child was close to completing their education then consideration was given to leaving the child at the appropriate school until after examinations.

I take the point that someone made about the school being in a villa. So was Doha College initially, a villa and portacabins.

As I see, you worked with QP from 1982 to 1997. I am taking about the present situation.

QP has always paid for "national" schooling where a "national" school existed.

It makes sense unless a change in school is harmful to the child's education.

Only Love & Respect of Others Makes Human.

Thanks for confirming my doubts. Can they do this to an employee? The choice should of the parent and not employer.

Can anyone suggest how to approach this situation?

Its great that you participated in the forum, but the purpose of the post was to clarify the matter that is in relation to QGPC. Canadians are refused to send their kids to even British Schools because there is a Canadian school in town. The sole reason - school is cheap!!!

We claim education fee for our kids when our kids attain the age of 4, however as you do not offer pre-kindergarten and classes after grade 7 its puts our kids future in a very odd situation. Your school still operates in a small villa, no match of facilities like Doha College, American School, or DESS etc.

Call it employer discrimination or exploitation of situation but Canadian employees are crushed from both sides. I wish the best to you, but you are still in DRAFT.

From the October Canadians in Qatar Newsletter:

THE QATAR

CANADIAN

SCHOOL

Learn more about the NEW Canadian School in Qatar!

If you are interested in further details or would like to visit us, please call the school, or email. A package can be sent to you and returned electronically if you wish, for your convenience.

While our primary student body is made up of CAN-Q employees’ children, it is not to the exclusion of the children of Canadians in Qatar.

Our Canadian trained staff reflects the teaching quality standard guidelines in their professional knowledge, skills and attributes, and ongoing professional growth. All have had experience teaching both in their home province and overseas, and are able to offer their students comfort, stability and encouragement to foster the highest academic growth. We constantly strive to link the cultivation of scholastic excellence and the responsible citizenship by example and through our programmes.

Thank you for the opportunity to share our school with you.

On behalf of the staff and students of the Qatar Canadian School,

Brenda Walker, Principal

brenda(dot)walker(at)cna-qatar(dot)edu(dot)qa

483 3520/27