UAEU chiefs to discuss the future of teachers

ABU DHABI // Management at the at UAE University (UAEU) will meet with their counterparts at the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) today to discuss the fate of its foundation programme teachers. More redundancies and a possible stream of resignations are expected at UAEU following the decision to merge its foundation programme with HCT's, which was announced to staff on May 25.

At least 20 of the 270 Al Ain-based foundation staff have been told they will be relocated to HCT colleges in remote areas such as Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah and Madinat Zayed by September, meaning up to a three-hour round commute to work. And although UAEU teachers who are moved will remain on their existing UAEU contracts, they say working at HCT also means longer hours and less holiday time. They were also told that those teaching maths, information technology (IT) and Arabic would not be kept on after June 2011, a move teachers say could result in more job loss.

The Government had previously announced long-term plans to phase out the foundation programmes, which serve as a bridge to prepare high school graduates for university. However, many of the students who come from high school have extremely limited computer skills and poor English, which hinders the process as the courses are taught in English, said a teacher in the IT department. "Upper management took this decision without coming to the classroom to see what's really happening," said the teacher. "I don't know what they based their decision on to take out IT. They'll be doing a disservice to the kids."

When contacted for a response, UAEU - which has a staff 1,073 - responded by issuing a statement from the provost, Prof Rory Hume, who said the programmes were being merged to benefit students. "The partnership between UAEU and HCT will allow students to be nearer their high schools and homes," he said. "We are honouring all staff contracts and working with them to minimise any disruption. This move is for the benefit of the students."

In an announcement on the merger last month, UAEU said: "The change will also allow HCT and UAEU to work more closely with schools throughout the UAE to help prepare their students for university." In February, Prof Hume announced that without an increase in government funding, the university may shed nearly 200 of its staff to bolster research capacity and launch PhD programmes. Yesterday, 14 teachers, five of whom had volunteered, were given relocation forms to be signed by 5pm. Those who refused risked having their contracts terminated.

They were given a Dh7,200 relocation incentive to be paid in two instalments next year and an additional Dh12,000 in September to cover "other move-related costs". A document circulated acknowledged the "timing is less than optional". One English teacher said staff were told relocation decisions were up to HCT. "It's not been thought through properly," she said. "They don't even know if there's enough housing in Fujairah and they're talking about people living in a hotel."

Another teacher, who has been in Al Ain for six years, could not comprehend a three-hour commute. "It's totally uprooting our lives and honestly, I'm not sure we'll stay. The hours will change from six hours a day to nine or 10 and we'll all lose nearly a month of our summer vacation." Staff say they have been left uncertain of their rights or where to turn. Many went to the Ministry of Labour but were redirected to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, who told them nobody was available to speak with them.

"We just don't know if our contracts will be honoured," said another teacher. Other federal universities have also been subject to cost-cutting measures in the wake of the financial downturn. In May, HCT announced to its staff that a pay freeze had been implemented and scrapped a merit bonus scheme. A pay freeze has also been implemented at Zayed University. Staff at UAEU have been told they cannot turn to Zayed University for alternative employment, as the institutions have an unofficial non-poaching agreement.

@Email:mswan@thenational.ae