OurPlanet International School (OPIS), a unique elementary school launched in 2013, has just joined Search Associates. A member of the Nobel Education Network, OPIS is the first school in the Middle East to focus on the theme of sustainability. Within a multi-cultural environment, OPIS students engage in inquiry-based learning in both English and Arabic, while celebrating Oman's unique identity, Arabic language and culture, and the guiding principle of sustainability. The school's mission and vision states:
"Caring for our planet's cycles and natural resources is one of humankind's most essential challenges and responsibilities. School is a natural and necessary platform for educating younger generations in their role in ensuring a better future for our planet."
Located in Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, a favored suburb of Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, the OPIS campus is nestled near the Al-Hajar Mountains and the magnificent blue coast of the Gulf of Oman, yet also close to the financial district. Muscat, a 3,000-year-old city, is both ancient and modern, with well-preserved architecture and immense mosques interspersed with hospitals, universities, and opera houses.
Proud of its diversity, OPIS currently enrolls 240 K-5 students from 38 countries, such as Croatia, Germany, India, Iran, Jordan, Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Oman, the U.K., and the U.S. The school is an IB candidate school for the Primary Years Program (PYP) of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). OPIS also intends to offer Omani certificates and standardized tests for students preparing to remain in Oman for further study. The staff of 35 includes 15 teachers from Oman and seven teachers from the U.K. and N. America.
Regarding its hiring policy, OPIS states, "As we only go up to Grade Five this year, we cannot accept teachers with children older than the age of nine." Within that parameter, OPIS will hire singles and couples, which may include a non-teaching spouse. They will also consider outstanding newly-certified teachers with limited experience. Certified teachers up to the age of 60 may obtain a work visa in Oman.
The benefits package includes a housing and settling-in allowance and one annual round-trip airfare for home leave. Health insurance, including dental, is fully covered by the school. A tuition benefit of 50% is awarded for children between the ages of three and nine (because, as mentioned previously, the school at present only reaches fifth grade).
To gain access to OurPlanet International School's full profile on the Search Associates database, including a list of all open positions, candidates can apply for membership by clicking here. Candidates already registered can easily access the school profile directly through their dashboard for more information about salary, benefits package, and teaching requirements.
Please Note: The information presented about this school was valid on the date published. This information may change, and the most up-to-date information can be found on the school profile.
