ABU DHABI — Realising the importance of Arabic language, parents of some students have approached the principal of the Abu Dhabi Indian School demanding to introduce the language subject in classes 11 and 12.
According to the ministerial decision No. 4443 of 2001, students of international curriculum should be taught Arabic language as a mandatory subject from standard one to ten. In classes 11 and 12, it is elective but is necessary if the students want to get equivalent certificates for it from the Ministry of Education to complete their higher education in the country.
Talking to Khaleej Times, a source at the MoE who requested anonymity, said, "Students of international schools must study Arabic language in the 11th and 12th grades if they want to pursue their studies in the UAE universities or obtain its equivalent certificates from the schools where they studied."
He said students could choose another language like French or German as a second language in classes 11 and 12.
He asked parents to inform the MoE and Abu Dhabi Education Zone if any school failed to impart these courses in their schools.
The principal of Abu Dhabi Indian School, V.K. Mathu, told Khaleej Times, "Parents of some students had approached me for introducing the Arabic language course in classes 11 and 12 too, but how can we begin a class with five or six students? We need at least 20-25 students to begin a course."
"For those students who wish to pursue their further studies in the UAE universities after their school can opt for an open Arabic language course which is equivalent to the course in class 12. The course is offered and conducted by the MoE. The ministry also provides all material for the course," added Mathu.
"We inform all parents regarding this course in the beginning of the academic year of class 12 so that interested students could enrol themselves," said Mathu.
"We have also received requests from parents to introduce language courses in the intermediate like Urdu, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil and Malayalam. We cannot begin class for a particular subject without a certain number of students. If we receive demands from a sustainable number of students, we will definitely begin it," he added.
By Ahmed Abdul Aziz and Anwar Ahmad (Our staff reporters)