A week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Arrival on the first day at the school

I thought you have retired people are saying?  Well from being committed to working everyday I certainly have but when people ask about a short assignment why not?

So it was off to Riyadh last week for an assignment with a contractor from Vancouver, Canada.  I have known Doug for sometime who has his own education company so when he asked I could hardly refuse.  The task was to evaluate against international benchmarks, a private school which targeted local Saudi students.  It was owned and operated by a one of the richest mean in the Kingdom outside the Royal family.  How did it compare?  It didn't and was providing a fairly unacceptable education for a number of reasons which should not be disclosed here.

Some pad!

Saudi Arabia apart from having lots of desert and of course oil is fairly similar to the arab countries of Kuwait and Qatar both of which I have worked in.  The rights of the workers who come from out of country are minimal.  They are poorly paid, restricted in what they do and where they go.  They are unable to move to another job in country to better themselves as the sponsor / employee has power over the visa.  The ex-pat teachers, who were from Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iran etc were quick to use a visit as a time to complain bitterly about their pay and conditions. It will be in the report, which is one of the longest that I have written on an evaluation.  The school spends more on mobile phones than teacher training!

Chris and Doug relaxing

Flights were via Amman in Jordan to Riyadh on the way out and via Beirut, Lebanon on the way back where I waited five hours for the connection to Larnaca.  It was a good time to catch sit and write the report with a beer in hand with no opportunity in the Kingdom with alcohol banned.  Hotel was an OK business hotel, new built with a typical arabic style although staffed by ex-pats except for management and front desk.  Therefore it was interesting to watch in the lounges, which were quite busy Saudis having to speak english to order coffee. drinks etc rather than arabic.

Highlights of the week?  A meal / meeting with some potential Saudi investors who are thinking they want to build a school. Picked us up from the hotel in a Series 7 BMW …. love being driven in these cars and say we are going to an indian restaurant. Surprised at the choice and when we enter are informed that its fully booked!  Can't believe they hadn't got somebody to do that for them!!! So we end up in a Lebanese restaurant.  Love the food and the people.  Our debrief took place at the owners house.  This is the 6th richest man in the Kingdom.  This was not a house but a palace.  The picture here was the fountain taken as we left, the arch being the gate out.

Kingdom Tower

I couldn't take pictures in the house out of politeness so you will have to imagine a dining room that sat 32 on circular tables.  There were 6 when we sat down to eat.  I managed to count 10 four seater sofas in various places for 'discussion' with wonderful artefacts and pictures every where.

The last afternoon was one of relaxation and a trip to Mishkat a project in Riyadh for young people to understand that as a country they need to think beyond oil as their only source of power.  I hands on, exploratory learning display that if it could be taken outside the Kingdom it would be a great success.  Very impressed.  The project was 'owned' by a Board member of the school and at the moment although it must have cost millions $ to set up is only open to school parties who are not charged for entry.  There is a need to educate the young!