Abu Dhabi/Dubai: More than 1.1 million public and private school students marched back to class on Sunday, marking the first day of the new academic year in the UAE.
Their return follows last week’s announcement of a major academic shake-up that will bring all schools, public or private, following the Ministry of Education curriculum under the ministry’s Emirati School Model.
Science and Math, previously taught in Arabic across public schools, may soon be taught in English, as has been done in Abu Dhabi’s public schools since 2010. The changes will also apply to private schools following the ministry’ curriculum; only grade 12 students will be exempt.
In Abu Dhabi Emirate, students following the ministry’s curriculum in grades six through 11 will also find teaching more closely aligned with ministry courses.
There are 257 public schools that will operate in 2017-2018 academic year, as well as 45 private schools that will offer the ministry’s curriculum.
While Sunday marks the first day of the new academic year for all public schools and most private schools, for many Indian, Pakistani and other Asian schools it is the first day of their second term. Their new school year had started in April.
In Abu Dhabi, there are 196 private schools for the 2017-2018 cycle, with at least six new educational institutions having opened their doors.
Emma Shanahan, principal at the newly opened Aspen Heights British School in Abu Dhabi said: “Our curriculum is unique, and centred around using innovative, inquiry based learning to facilitate children’s mastery of skills and concepts, and giving them the opportunity to demonstrate their ‘mastery’ by applying these skills in a new, unfamiliar and meaningful context. Our location gives us the opportunity to utilise the incredible natural features of Abu Dhabi to enhance and support children’s learning.”
After the summer break, which started June 23, roads once again will fill with yellow school buses and family cars on the school run. As ever year, police forces in all emirates are expected to deploy more patrols, especially near school zones, to manage the expected surge in traffic. Sharjah alone is dispatching around 80 patrols. In Dubai, where 280,000 students attend 235 schools, school buses account for 13 per cent of the morning rush hour. Every year, authorities, schools and safety campaigners send out advisories to parents and students urging them to follow traffic and safety rules, especially during drop-off and pickup times and locations.
Some of the schools that had opened last week had reported strong student enrolment and attendance following the summer break.
Students, teachers inspired towards excellence
Students and teachers returning for the new school year in the UAE after the summer break were inspired by a series of encouraging messages by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. In a string of tweets yesterday, on the eve of the first day of classes today, Shaikh Mohammad described teachers as “a national treasure”, expressing his pride in their “pivotal role in building minds & refining spirits”. He also mentioned the new educational programme for schools following the government system, pointing out that the new national educational vision being introduced this school year is “an integral part of our strategy for the future”.
Addressing pupils, Shaikh Mohammed tweeted: “Our students! Acquire knowledge, turn reading into a habit and always strive for excellence and make it your motto in life”.
He also highlighted the shared responsibility of caring for the youth, saying “We are entrusted with our children, whether as families, schools or society as a whole. We need to work together to make their lives better”. Shaikh Mohammad wished the students all the best for the new school year and said their “knowledge & perseverance ensure the UAE’s continued growth & development”.
More than 1,700 teachers join Gems schools
More than 1,700 teachers from around the world were inducted into the Gems Education network of schools at what was one of the largest teacher induction events of its kind for K-12 schools in the UAE. The annual event, called GEMS Awareness Day, was organised in association with TELLAL, (Teacher Learning and Leadership for All) Institute.
It provided an opportunity for new teachers to meet members of the senior leadership team, hear from colleagues and get an introduction to the entire network of Gems Education. TELLAL is a licensed dedicated teacher training institute in the UAE in partnership with Gems Education. Sunny Varkey, founder and chairman of Gems Education, said: “I believe teaching is a calling, a vocation and not simply a job. By joining the Gems family your passion for this noble profession should transform yourself into a master-practitioner, and that coupled with strong partnerships with parents will enable the children you teach to succeed.”
