While it’s rapidly becoming better known that the Middle East isn’t a huge war-zone with armed militants and balaclava-wearing terrorists left, right and centre (which is no thanks to the media’s poor interpretation of political shifts), it’s not so well known that education all throughout this region is rapidly undergoing a huge revolution as standards improve and more westerners are finding themselves travelling to experience this themselves (as well as provide a better lifestyle for their children).
The United Arab Emirates is one of several leaders in education in the region and this rising power is quickly being noticed on an international level as a revolutionary in the educative sector. And although fees have been quoted as incredibly expensive and at that of a luxury level, as the saying goes: “You get what you pay for.â€
- Middle East poorly represented in the western media.
- United Arab Emirates setting a new standard for education.
Among recent shifts in the education sector in the region include a whole ten extra school days added onto the school year, pushing the school year up to 189 days. Parents all across the United Arab Emirates have applauded this decision as this means not only will their children see more attention and an increased quality of learning but also will see much better value for money. Additionally, the school calendar has been praised as a helpful tool in planning holidays, allowing parents to save money on early bookings.
Teachers will soon need to have a license to teach in the UAE and will not be permitted to do so without one. Marwan Al Salaweh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education, is quoted saying “To be permitted to teach in the UAE, teachers will have to have a federal licence that ensures a unified system and teaching standards in school.†This licence will see a new era of quality in schools and is sure to pick up in neighbouring Middle Eastern countries such as Qatar and Bahrain.
- Ten extra days added to the school calendar, bringing school years up to 189 days.
- All teachers soon required to have licences, likely before the end of 2014.
And Tablets in schools? A new introduction into the schooling system is technology in the classroom, this movement, it’s thought, will rapidly become a standard in all schools within the UAE within only a few years and is already seeing widespread acceptance in almost all of the UAE’s top schools. This new technology is fitted with specialized software to assist with the child’s education as well as with their interaction with the lesson. However, parents have been expected to pay for these tablets in many cases, especially in the cases of private schools, and these tablets can cost as much as AED 2,000 (about $545 or £330).
- Â Tablets are expensive but critical for a student’s learning capabilities.
These massive advancements in schooling, regulations and technology have seen the rate of literate, qualified adults in the country skyrocket and has seen the Emirati workforce grow all the stronger in turn. Due to the opening of many schools in the country, positions are plentiful for qualified teachers and SeekTeachers helps in placing and integrating many of these teachers across the region.
[The National: UAE Ministry adds 10 more days to next school year]
[Zawya: All UAE Teachers will have to have a license to teach]