The International School of Lusaka

1.9  / 5
( 2Reviews)
Ranking:
Country:# 2Top 3
|
Region:# 28
|
Overall:# 223
Located:
Lusaka, Zambia
Region:
Africa
Score Over Time:

Curriculum:

N/A

Grade Levels:

N/A

Type:

N/A

Enrollment:

N/A

Category Scores:

2.6
School
6.5
Students
0.2
Administration
3.4
Salary
4.5
Benefits
3.5
Housing
4.3
Colleagues
4.8
Place
3.8
Professional Development
6.2
Settling In
1.8
After Arrival
Affiliate:

Review Summary:

School:

Question 1:

The facilities of the school adequately provide for a positive learning/working experience.

1.5 / 10
Question 2:

School provides adequate access to teaching materials without any extra expense by the teacher (books, lab supplies, art supplies, materials, copying, etc.

2 / 10
Question 3:

School is well funded to provide students and faculty with adequate materials to support their course offering.

0 / 10
Question 4:

Parent community is actively involved in supporting the school's mission and their child's education endeavors.

4.5 / 10
Question 5:

Classroom student to teacher ratios are kept low.

5 / 10

Students:

Question 6:

Students are generally of high aptitude.

4.5 / 10
Question 7:

Student interactions with faculty are primarily characterized by respectability.

7.5 / 10
Question 8:

Students are of diverse ethnicity.

7.5 / 10

Administration:

Question 9:

Administration positively supports faculty in a professional manner.

0.5 / 10
Question 10:

Administration actively encourages a dialogue concerning school related issues.

0.5 / 10
Question 11:

Administration is actively engaged in developing/supporting/maintaining a clear school vision.

0 / 10
Question 12:

Administration makes sure that the financial stability and integrity of the school is well maintained.

0 / 10
Question 13:

Administration/Ownership uses school funds to support the well being of the school.

0 / 10

Salary:

Question 14:

Salary scale is competitive.

3 / 10
Question 15:

Salary provides the opportunity to save appropriately.

2.5 / 10
Question 16:

Salary provides the opportunity to travel during vacation.

3.5 / 10
Question 17:

Salary scale provides for vertical and horizontal movement based on years of experience and/or units/degree's earned.

4.5 / 10

Benefits:

Question 18:

School provides a quality health insurance plan that covers all major medical (health, vision, dental.

2.5 / 10
Question 19:

School provides retirement benefits that are competitive.

3 / 10
Question 20:

School provides a health insurance plan that covers international travel/coverage.

0.5 / 10
Question 21:

School provides for faculty child tuition benefits.

8 / 10
Question 22:

School provides strong support for maternity benefits.

5.5 / 10
Question 23:

School provides an adequate amount for end of contract airfare cost.

7 / 10
Question 24:

School provides an adequate shipping allowance.

5 / 10

Housing:

Question 25:

School provides quality available housing or a housing stipend that affords quality housing.

1 / 10
Question 26:

The proximity of housing in relation to school location is within an acceptable distance of travel.

8.5 / 10
Question 27:

Options of moving housing during the course of contract is acceptable.

1 / 10

Colleagues:

Question 28:

Colleagues foster a welcoming environment to new faculty.

4 / 10
Question 29:

School hires a diversity of family structures (Singles, couples, families.

6 / 10
Question 30:

Colleagues foster a professional environment that supports growth.

2.5 / 10
Question 31:

Colleagues foster a personal support structure in place of family.

4.5 / 10

Place:

Question 32:

City the school resides in provides opportunities for things to do without having to travel

5.5 / 10
Question 33:

City the school resides in provides easy opportunities to travel to other places.

6 / 10
Question 34:

Local culture is apparent in the city/country in which the school resides.

8.5 / 10
Question 35:

Local culture of in which the school resides is open to integrating expats into local customs and traditions.

9.5 / 10
Question 36:

City/Country in which the school resides does not exact personal restrictions on lifestyle choices.

4.5 / 10
Question 37:

City/Country in which school resides provides for potential tax benefits.

2 / 10
Question 38:

Quality of local health care is excellent.

4 / 10
Question 39:

Cost of living in the city/country where school resides is reasonable.

2 / 10
Question 40:

City the school resides in has excellent infrastructure for mass transportation (e.g. - is a car required.

0.5 / 10
Question 41:

City/Country in which the school resides provides for adequate personal safety.

6 / 10

Professional Development:

Question 42:

School makes available a variety of professional development opportunities.

3.5 / 10
Question 43:

School makes available funds to support continued development.

3.5 / 10
Question 44:

Time is specifically set aside in the calendar for faculty and staff formation.

5.5 / 10
Question 45:

Faculty and Staff are encouraged to professionally grow by the school.

3 / 10
Question 46:

Faculty and Staff are encouraged to experiment, implement, and bring up new ideas for classroom innovation.

3.5 / 10

Settling In:

Question 47:

School meets you on arrival and escorts you to accommodations.

8.5 / 10
Question 48:

School provides an adequate orientation to the school and local culture upon arrival.

6 / 10
Question 49:

School provides an allowance to support the transition.

4 / 10

After Arrival:

Question 50:

Facilities of the school were well represented during the hiring process.

3 / 10
Question 51:

Contract is honored based on what was agreed upon during the hiring process.

0 / 10
Question 52:

School actively maintains a dialogue and support structure to make sure basic needs are being met.

2.5 / 10

Review Narratives:

2 reviews

3.6

Reviewed:

09/01/2014

No written review provided.

4

Reviewed:

05/19/2014

Avoid ISL (www.islzambia.org). My experience was with a completely incompetent administration and HR officer. My work permit application was bungled, which resulted in my work visa being refused by the government. ISL knew this over the summer, but didn't tell me. They brought me to Zambia (illegally) knowing I wouldn't be able to work, then terminated my contract in October leaving me homeless, unemployed and uninsured. ISL failed to honor the severance terms of my contract, and I was forced to retain legal counsel. ISL has been a nightmare worst-case scenario. Here are some facts: - the school withholds 25% of teachers' salary, calling it a "gratuity," but it fact it is just part of your salary, withheld - expat teachers at ISL pay 30% income tax (teachers at AISL however work tax-free due to the school's relationship with the US Embassy in Lusaka) - teachers are expected to live on just 45% of their salaries, while Lusaka is one of the most expensive cities in Africa - the settling in allowance is a meager $500, barely enough to buy a washing machine because the school doesn't provide one - the ISL Board has fired something like 8 out of the 10 past Heads of School - the school has 700 students yet they were near bankrupt last year (you think about why that could be) - ISL has 60% local hire teachers and 40% overseas hires There is 0 percent chance of savings. Obviously because of the way I was treated, I have written a negative yet completely truthful review of ISL. The reality is that most expat teachers at ISL move on after 2 years. There are no incentives, financial or otherwise, to stay (as most of the school housing is substandard and the school has no money for improvements). Since 60% of the teachers are Zambian, no one will ever speak up for change. That's the reality.

Affiliate: