During the last few years the Ministry of Education (MoE) has been focusing on improving the educational system in the UAE from various angles. They include the curriculum, examinations, buildings and student affairs. As part of its strategy that aims at developing general education in the country, the MoE has issued a guide for principals in public schools.
It lists priorities in 12 areas and has 104 articles that reflect a new roadmap for government schools. The key reason behind producing the guide is the increasing significance of the leadership role of principals in the country's educational development. The guide focuses on academic, educational, organisational and social areas that enable a principal to manage and evaluate educational conditions.
Task list
The guide highlights many tasks and goes into minute details, so much so that many readers are likely to question their importance.
For example, the guide authorises principals to design teaching plans for the school's instructors; provide all instructional instruments that help a teacher present lessons; provide various computer-based instructional programmes; and arrange the teaching periods.
In the area of financial affairs, the guide gives clear instructions on how to prepare the school's budget.
Principals are also expected to manage the school's canteen, make sure classrooms are adequately provided with tables and chairs and arrange textbooks.
Under the head of administrative affairs, principals will be responsible for preparing a school's strategic and operational plans, document and preserve all personal files of employees and students, arrange stationery, take care of the school's garden and ensure that the school's sign boards are erected at locations clearly visible to the public.
Under cleaning and maintenance, principals will be held responsible for the water tanks and the purification of water. They are expected to supervise the maintenance company, provide fire extinguishers and First Aid kits.
In fostering the school's relationship with the local community, principals must use all forms of communication technology to update people with the school's educational developments.
Additionally, he or she must establish a website for the school where students, parents, teachers and others can communicate and discuss relevant issues. In this context, principals must equip all computer labs with instructional software, build the school's intranet and instruct teachers to get the International Computer Driving License (ICDL).
Drawbacks
From my point of view, the responsibilities of a public school principal listed in the guide raise some important points. As it is known within the education environment, most principals start their careers as teachers, moving on to becoming deputy principals before assuming charge of the school. Throughout this long journey, principals routinely perform all the tasks mentioned in the guide; therefore, many educators will question the value of highlighting responsibilities that are already only too well-known.
Another point is the lack of rules that will help the MoE monitor and evaluate the implementation of the new guide.
Among the recent changes in the education system, the MoE has transferred most of its responsibilities to the local educational zones and councils of education, particularly in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Accordingly these days, most sign boards in Dubai indicate the Knowledge and Human Development Authority as the sole authority responsible for public schools; not the MoE.
Hence, my concern is whether the local councils of education are in agreement with the guide and will in fact implement it or do they have the freedom to reject it and implement their own concepts.
In conclusion, for the fourth consecutive year, the MoE is beginning the academic year without improving the financial conditions of local teachers in terms of salaries and other allowances. This is despite the ministry's repeated promises. Many teachers will perceive this as a top priority that deserves the full attention of the ministry, even more so than the new guide for principals.
I believe the MoE must focus on practical aspects more than theory, in particular the concerns of national teachers in order to guarantee the success of its development programmes.
— The writer is a UAE academic and thinker
By Abdullah Al Shaiba, Notes Report