Newton International School (NIS)
By Eidelweiss •
As a parent of our child enrolled at NIS in 2011 year we felt that it is important to share our obseravtions of our childs year at NIS.
- The teachers generally don't teach the subject and also don't provide students guidance on what to study for the exams.More often the students are encouraged to take extra lessons after school.
- Students are encouraged not to come to school especially just before and after the exams which can result in a child have a poor attendance for the school year.
- Students are given high volumes of work including prior year syllabus to study just a month before the final exams E.g Science and Geography subjects.
- The students reports have numerous errors. We requetsed such errors to be corrected and this was done without any explaination from NIS management. We doubt the honesty and assessment carried out by teachers.
- We doubt that our child has the necessary skills to further his studies at tertiary level.
- Teachers main focus is discipline as though it is an additional school subject. The rules are not practical for this day and age teenagers.
- The school fees are extremely high and has little justifiaction for the level of education our child is receiving.
- Many of the teachers are from the UK with years of experience but some of them cannot even communicate in proper english.
- It is really difficult to get honest feedback from teachers and in our view it is difficult to trust their judgement.
Generally our view is that Secondary education is a disaster in Qatar and these children are not adequately equiped to face the challenges of tertairy education and persue professional careers.
I am a lecturer in a tertairy level and I am really shocked at what I am observing about the schooling problems in Qatar and what's even more shocking is the poor performance of the teachers from the UK.
Hope the education standards improve in teh future.
Eidelweiss, I do understand what you mean. Go to SEC and file a report, like Flor2012 is suggesting. Don't get put off. I just surfed the SEC website but there is little help provided to file a report online. Get a group of parents and students who share your views and make a solid report based on facts and drop it on the SEC desk. Make a copy and send it to the Dept of Education. Insist you see the one who is in charge. Someone will ultimately do something about it. Well, hopefully.
Accounting, Business economics and Economics as complained by ur son are similar subjects in secondary level...Well, i guess so. Bcoz these subjects have correlation with each other at least in initial stages or the basic principles. Unless if u r majoring already then the difference and the focus is going to be apparent.
Schools in Qatar? - Badly run businesses.
Experience is critically important. A university degree alone does not qualify you to teach. The salaries for UK teachers in Qatar are generally very low. If it wasn't for the fact that I am supported by my husband I wouldn't work here for the pittance that they pay to a teacher with 12 years of experience teaching secondary and sixth form.
When good teachers are found they are overworked, up to 7 hours in a classroom per day, backfilling for subjects for which there is no staff yet found and without adequate resources.
I love to teach, and to engage students to be the best that they can be. I bring the latest in educational techniques and practices from the UK and I really hoped to make a difference here in Qatar. However it is increasingly difficult when one is treated as hired labour rather than as a qualified and experienced professional.
I am seriously considering taking up a role as a supply teacher. More money, less stress and more spare time. It is a shame that I would not be able to make the contribution that I really wanted to make and students will therefore miss out.
Sounds like a rather damning report.
This is a follow up on my above comments after the close of Secondary school for this academic year.
I was not surprised that nothing much has changed in the school and it seems as though it was a wasted year for my child at NIS
I also observed the following during the last term:
1. A last minute attempt was made by the educators to complete the syllabus which was really a short cut job.
2. The school does not share the exam/ test script with the students. Also on many occasions the full test marks are not communicated to the parents. It is very important for a student to improve their subject marks by identifying where they went wrong.
3. The subject exam type questions and marking criteria is not shared with the student before the exams. Also students are not informed well in advance what is the duration of the exam papers. It was noted that students arrive at school and are not sure what time they will write the exam papers. All such problems of type of questions, mark allocation and duration of exam papers could affect a students performance.
4. Many of the Secondary teachers tend to bully students and as a result there is lot of back chat by students to teachers which results in students being punished.
5. The standard of education is so low and children are really doing very poorly. Such students have a very slim chance of making it at tertiary education level.
6.The quality of teachers at the school is really poor and they seem to have a don't care attitude to parents complaints.
7. The value of education is way below the excessive fees charged by the school.
8. The PTA should not be a fund raising body but attend to concerns of the school in general.
9. Many errors in final report and no details of gradings per subject for grade 10.
I hope the owner of the school try to address my concerns by
1. Getting many more qualified teachers who not only seem to talk good English but are qualified to teach specific subjects.
2. Share the full years subject syllabus and study material with topics covered in each term at the beginning of the school year.
3. Communicate the students exam/test papers with students and teachers.
3. Allow parents to provide regular feedback on all aspects of the education programme directly to the owner of the school and a public relations person/PTA.
4.Send the reports to parents a few days in advance so that parents can review and clarify any issues with the school.
I hope that for the benefit of the future students of NIS Lagoon the management improves the education and produce successful students who can continue their studies at tertiary education level,if necessary.
GOOD LUCK NIS LAGOON!!!!!!!!
This is a follow up on my above comments after the close of Secondary school for this academic year.
I was not surprised that nothing much has changed in the school and it seems as though it was a wasted year for my child at NIS
I also observed the following during the last term:
1. A last minute attempt was made by the educators to complete the syllabus which was really a short cut job.
2. The school does not share the exam/ test script with the students. Also on many occasions the full test marks are not communicated to the parents. It is very important for a student to improve their subject marks by identifying where they went wrong.
3. The subject exam type questions and marking criteria is not shared with the student before the exams. Also students are not informed well in advance what is the duration of the exam papers. It was noted that students arrive at school and are not sure what time they will write the exam papers. All such problems of type of questions, mark allocation and duration of exam papers could affect a students performance.
4. Many of the Secondary teachers tend to bully students and as a result there is lot of back chat by students to teachers which results in students being punished.
5. The standard of education is so low and children are really doing very poorly. Such students have a very slim chance of making it at tertiary education level.
6.The quality of teachers at the school is really poor and they seem to have a don't care attitude to parents complaints.
7. The value of education is way below the excessive fees charged by the school.
8. The PTA should not be a fund raising body but attend to concerns of the school in general.
9. Many errors in final report and no details of gradings per subject for grade 10.
I hope the owner of the school try to address my concerns by
1. Getting many more qualified teachers who not only seem to talk good English but are qualified to teach specific subjects.
2. Share the full years subject syllabus and study material with topics covered in each term at the beginning of the school year.
3. Communicate the students exam/test papers with students and teachers.
3. Allow parents to provide regular feedback on all aspects of the education programme directly to the owner of the school and a public relations person/PTA.
4.Send the reports to parents a few days in advance so that parents can review and clarify any issues with the school.
I hope that for the benefit of the future students of NIS Lagoon the management improves the education and produce successful students who can continue their studies at tertiary education level,if necessary.
GOOD LUCK NIS LAGOON!!!!!!!!
This is a follow up on my above comments after the close of Secondary school for this academic year.
I was not surprised that nothing much has changed in the school and it seems as though it was a wasted year for my child at NIS
I also observed the following during the last term:
1. A last minute attempt was made by the educators to complete the syllabus which was really a short cut job.
2. The school does not share the exam/ test script with the students. Also on many occasions the full test marks are not communicated to the parents. It is very important for a student to improve their subject marks by identifying where they went wrong.
3. The subject exam type questions and marking criteria is not shared with the student before the exams. Also students are not informed well in advance what is the duration of the exam papers. It was noted that students arrive at school and are not sure what time they will write the exam papers. All such problems of type of questions, mark allocation and duration of exam papers could affect a students performance.
4. Many of the Secondary teachers tend to bully students and as a result there is lot of back chat by students to teachers which results in students being punished.
5. The standard of education is so low and children are really doing very poorly. Such students have a very slim chance of making it at tertiary education level.
6.The quality of teachers at the school is really poor and they seem to have a don't care attitude to parents complaints.
7. The value of education is way below the excessive fees charged by the school.
8. The PTA should not be a fund raising body but attend to concerns of the school in general.
9. Many errors in final report and no details of gradings per subject for grade 10.
I hope the owner of the school try to address my concerns by
1. Getting many more qualified teachers who not only seem to talk good English but are qualified to teach specific subjects.
2. Share the full years subject syllabus and study material with topics covered in each term at the beginning of the school year.
3. Communicate the students exam/test papers with students and teachers.
3. Allow parents to provide regular feedback on all aspects of the education programme directly to the owner of the school and a public relations person/PTA.
4.Send the reports to parents a few days in advance so that parents can review and clarify any issues with the school.
I hope that for the benefit of the future students of NIS Lagoon the management improves the education and produce successful students who can continue their studies at tertiary education level,if necessary.
GOOD LUCK NIS LAGOON!!!!!!!!
think I'm siding with the school. As far as I know, most teachers are, if not all are British nationals just like you.
But if you will keep you accusation here on board, what will you gain? Come out to the council and if you truly believe in what your child is saying, what's the use of keeping your child there. You yourself said that your child will repeat year 10 in another school so if you truly are of concerned to the other students, make a formal complaint so if the school need to be sanctioned or whatever corrective action the council will imposed on them, it will be done ASAP! Nobody is indispensable here, the management could fire anyone on it's discretion based on either their own policy or Qatar Law. So you should act fast!
I have a child currently in year 10 at NIS and we are experience problems first hand. You obviously seem to be siding the school but if you are working at the school you will know that the Principal has recently been dismissed????, the Accounting teacher has also been dismissed????? and that the school has been constantly changing the certain available optional subjects offered to pupils in the first term. The latest change is that the school cannot offer Accounting as a subject because there are no/inadequate subject matter teachers to teach Accounting. The Year 10 students have been requested to choose an alternative subject to Accounting in the second term. Even whats more disappointing is that the teachers are currently advising the current Accounting students that Accounting subject is not required for one to pursue a career in Accounting at tertiary level.I was informed by my child, today, that the teachers suggest that Accounting, Business Economics and Economics are very similar/same subjects. This is so untrue and misleading to the pupils.
As for the Supreme Education Council of Qatar, they can be informed of such mismanagement of schools in Qatar but the reaction is too late to save the current Year 10 students who have just about 5 months left to complete year 10.
Fortunately for us we will be taking our child out of the school and he would have to repeat year 10 in an overseas school. As for the other older children in his grade they are going to struggle next year if this management practice is going to continue.
Whilst this is my opinion I can assure you that the consequences of the poor teaching practice at Year 10 will have devastating consequences for those pupils wishing to pursue a professional qualification at tertiary level.
My advise to the educators of NIS is please don't take a teaching job if you cannot deliver what is expected of a qualified and subject matter expert teacher especially at Secondary level.
real in your allegations, you ca always come-out with your real self and go to the Education Ministry. Hiding from a virtual forum with such accusations will be plain rumor.
Are you afraid to come out in person? If you are sincere, come-out! Or file a complaint at the Supreme Council of Education. It's your child future we are talking so get out of that school fast and make a formal report or inquiry so it could be checked!
Really disappointed with the the managment of Secondary Education at NIS -Lagoon. No detailed subject programmes per term, poor teaching methods, First term reports are incomplete and inaccurate, students are not given their exam scripts to review to determine where they went wrong in the exams, no detailed curriculum at end of First term and it's seems that the management don't really care,Example Principal does not reply to parents request.
What a dissappointment to pay such high school fees for no/little value added education.
The Supreme Education Council of Qatar needs review the education system in NIS- Lagoon especially in year 10 to 12 which are the most crucial years of a students secondary education.
Really disappointed with the the managment of Secondary eduaction. No subject programmes, incomptent teachers and it's seems that the management don't really care.
What a dissappointment to pay such high school fes but almost no education being conducted.
The Supreme Education Council of Qatar needs to do something about these schools.
LeeIsm, My comments are on D Ring NIS school, not sure about the other branches
may i ask which branch are we talking about here? because i heard that the one in al waab is good..? is it? please advice.
i mean newton school which branch?
Been hearing the same thing about NIS. I have been researching where to enroll my toddler and NIS was mentioned as one of the schools to check. Unfortunately, all I got was negative reactions...It doesn't matter if paying a high tuition as long as it's worth the education any kid will receive.
TFS everyone. Good to know I can strike this place off my list.
I have heard so many poor and negative comments about NIS that I do not think it is a coincidence. You forgot to add the constant staff rotation - teachers never stay for long and it is always the student who suffers. Best school at all levels? Parkhouse English School. Have a walk around the school and observe the pupils and facilities - not to mention all the extra-curricular activities available for you to chose from. Waiting list? Closed. Ask yourselves why. To the OP - sorry to say but if you are a teacher as you claim to be, your English is not the best either.
These are just my observations and there could be exceptions but once a child loses a year or two of proper education in the later stage of Secondary education it is really difficult to catch up and unfortunately I observed too many schools in Doha with similar quality of education. Perhaps most western education schools in Doha should follow Doha College eduaction system.
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U can't claim something is a rule just because u haven't seen an exception. It is quite understandable for u to feel bad about ur son's education but for a lecturer hasty generalization is way below ur par
Dear Sir, You are absolutely right, not in particular to NIS, thats the common standard of educational institution in Qatar. In Doha, most profitable business is Educational institution!!!
I agree with you and would like to add that the staff especially Principal and Head of Primary is extremely arrogant, rude and ignorant. They are rarely concerned about the child's benefit and when a parent speaks to them they will try to hit you back with rude words. The school is over crouded and the extra-carricular activities offered are mostly done to target the parents pockets and not for the childeren to play or enjoy. The play area is barely sufficient and the fee is unjustifiably astronomical. I am done with these buggers and have already decided to take my kids away to another school.
to generallise that secondary education is a disaster in qatar is a not a scientific conclusion, because your observation is based on only one school out of hundreds of school, there are standard and very qualitative schools here in qatar
to generallise that secondary education is a disaster in qatar is a not a scientific conclusion, because your observation is based on only one school out of hundreds of school, there are standard and very qualitative schools here in qatar
i find it difficult to believe such allegations,too much allegations, are they really true?then if they are , i think they need a whole new perspective to tuitoring in newton
TFS. Very worrying. Do you have any theories as to why it is so bad?