KHDA and BUiD get selective as collaborative efforts to train the next generation of teaching professionals get off the ground
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Dubai, UAE, February 12, 2008 – The Dubai School Agency, the first agency of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai (KHDA) in collaboration with the British University in Dubai (BUiD) has kicked off the first phase of their ‘Teach in Dubai’ program. The program offers full scholarships to train students for a post graduate diploma in Education as one part of KHDA’s efforts to invest in the teaching profession. Targeting graduate male and female teachers from the Arabic speaking community, candidates will be diploma holders in nine months with guaranteed jobs in Dubai’s schools.
A total of nine select candidates, who were chosen for the pilot program attended a joint orientation and induction program at BUiD who is conducting the actual course work in association with the University of Birmingham, UK.
Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of KHDA said, “I am pleased to welcome you on behalf of KHDA. I believe strongly that teaching is one of mankind’s noblest professions. This is a passion of mine and a personal commitment from me to upgrade the status of teachers, both economically and culturally. Working together, we will restore a love of learning in society. Good teachers, valued and respected by their community, are a prerequisite for this. Our ambitious goals for a knowledge economy in Dubai will be built on a foundation of strong teaching. You are the first building blocks of that foundation.”
Dr Abdulla Al Shamsi, Vice Chancellor of BUiD says, “A very big welcome to the selected candidates. You are the honored few who have been specially selected because we believe that you have the required potential to deliver what we seek to achieve – improved teaching in the Dubai’s schools. We look forward to our association in the coming months when we deliver the program in cooperation with KHDA.”
Fatma Al Marri, CEO of the Dubai School Agency said, “You are our pioneers. We have been very selective while choosing the candidates for the program. Together we will learn on how best to expand and improve this program into an ongoing teacher training and development program that spreads throughout our system. In nine months, we look forward to seeing this choice group enter Dubai’s schools and make a real difference with what they have learnt here.”
The ‘Teach in Dubai’ initiative is just the first phase in KHDA’s efforts to restore the teaching profession to the position of respect it should hold. It targets the Arabic speaking community from the region who may currently be teaching or are keen to enter the teaching profession. Existing teachers, fresh graduates in the field of mathematics, science and English who wish to explore a teaching career, and those who wish to return to the teaching profession after a break were among the applicants for this scholarship program. All of the enrolled candidates who successfully complete the course will acquire a Professional Diploma in Education from the renowned British University in Dubai; well-known for its high standards ensuring a diploma of significant intellectual and market value.
The benefits include the full scholarship, a monthly stipend and, upon successful completion, a guaranteed teaching job with the Dubai Schools Agency. BUiD will continue to accept applications for the next cycle in this ongoing program. Visit www.buid.ac.ae for more information.