ABU DHABI // The morning assembly at the Khadija Al Kubra primary school was longer than usual yesterday.
It began as it does each morning, with the national anthem. But instead of the usual programme that follows, the children performed skits and sang songs in Arabic.
Khadija Al Kubra is one of 61 state schools in Abu Dhabi that are part of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) programme, which aims to improve education by partnering with private education consultancy firms. Yesterday was Arabic Day at Khadija Al Kubra, and several activities were set up during the hour allocated for Arabic classes.
Arabic day – as well as events such as science day and maths day – has been set up as an interactive activity to encourage pupils to do more than learn from books.
“I’m writing a story,” said Mathir Mohammed, a grade four student. Mathir’s assignment was to describe a drawing of a man cleaning up a mess. “One day the father went to the market and he told his children not to make a mess. When he got back they had made a big mess and then the father told them to clean it up.”
In another room a group of grade one, two, and three pupils worked on activities in groups. While the grade two girls fished for nouns, another group made sentences in Arabic out of cardboard cutouts hung on a clothesline.
Bilingual education is another goal of the PPP programme – English, maths, and science are taught in the English language and other subjects such as Arabic, Islamic studies and social studies are taught in Arabic.
There has long been a debate as to whether Arabic is suffering as a result of the emphasis on English in schools and universities. But teachers at Khadija Al Kubra do not believe their pupils’ Arabic skills have diminished since the introduction of lessons in English at the school two years ago.
“I think the children should learn both Arabic and English, and in the school both languages are coming along together,” said Amani al Zaabi, a grade one Arabic teacher. “We are living in the 21st century, everyone should know English. The English language is the international language and that is why every child needs to know it, especially in Abu Dhabi, which has become such an international city, it’s a must.”
Dr Rima al Sabban, a sociologist, said: “English is becoming the dominant global language and because most universities are opting to teach in English, they are making English necessary at the primary and secondary school level.
“The most important thing for me is not for us to lose our Arabic, because it is the most vulnerable at this point,” she added.
The UAE needed to be cautious as it shifted toward a bilingual system, she said. “The Arabic curriculum that is used here is really weak, and as a result there is a danger that the English curriculum will be more appealing to students.”
Kathryn Lewis