ABU DHABI // A senior education official has assured teachers that their roles will be stable as plans to reform the education system gather pace in the emirate.
Dr Mugheer Khamis al Khaili, director general of Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec), in a letter to staff, said implementing changes was an “immediate priority”.
“This is an exciting time in Abu Dhabi’s history as we go through the change process and your efforts are important to Adec in the process of improving the learning outcomes of our students.
“I wish to give you reassurance... teachers will have stability in their roles.”
In a statement released alongside Dr Khaili’s letter, Adec officials said the Federal Government would pass more power to local authorities, and teachers would gain greater autonomy to “make decisions that meet local community needs”.
Parents would also have a greater say on how schools operated, Adec said.
No significant changes were expected for the coming academic year, but Adec intended to introduce upgrades to curricula and teacher training.
All new state school educators would also be expected to complete a university-level teacher training course within a specific period of time in order to continue as teachers. Specifics have not been announced.
The curricula at Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and model schools has already been upgraded, with greater emphasis on teaching English. The PPP programme will expand in the 2008-09 academic year.
State schools have been criticised in the past for not preparing young Emiratis adequately for university and the workplace. One-third of the teaching budget at federal universities is now spent on foundation courses meant to bring studients up to the level that is required to undertake serious study of particular subjects.
dbardsley@thenational.ae
Daniel Bards
Page last updated 01 January 2020