Dubai: Newly recruited teachers in all public schools must obtain a teaching certification and licence beginning next academic year, while teachers already working will undergo training to meet new international standards set by the education ministry.
"We are looking at developing a certification system for teachers. A licensure system," said Dr. Vincent Ferrandino, Educational Consultant in the Policy and Planning Office at the Education Ministry.
Dr. Ferrandino was responding to questions in an interview with Gulf News, regarding recent educational reforms.
According to him, new teachers will have to obtain the certification, while existing teachers will get a period of time where they will be able to develop and do additional training and meet the new standards.
"The Ministry of Education does the certification based upon meeting certain criteria; it calls for the teacher to have an education degree, a major and a Bachelor's degree. They must pass certain external tests that are being developed. We are working with the educational testing service who are the same people that do the SAT test, to develop a module for the UAE," he said.
The new comprehensive teacher training currently taking place is a five-year program which the ministry implemented. The program includes initial modules about basic classroom techniques, he said.
By Siham Al Najami, Staff Reporter
Page last updated 01 January 2020