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TheMagician · Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Posts: 6

Any action on the Vice Presidents brain storming session?

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

VPs from where?

TheMagician · Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Posts: 6

http://www.thenational.ae/uae/education/uae-cabinet-announces-education-revolution

Is this imminent or at some point in the future?

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Who knows? Likely not even them. They have wanted for years to get rid of the Foundation year, but reality keeps slapping them in the face. As long as the schools don't prepare the students, the university has to do it. Abu Dhabi has been slowly trying to implement a new school program with this goal in mind, but I don't think any of the universities have felt the effect yet.

I don't see how they can get rid of TEFL unless they start teaching in Arabic rather than English.

VS

2buckets · Joined: 14 Dec 2010 Posts: 515 Location: Middle East

More likely better to teach in Tagolog, or some other housemaid language as many students are more fluent in those than in Arabic.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

FNC to debate scrapping of English foundation courses at UAE universities
By Ola Salem, The National | January 6, 2014
Source: http://www.thenational.ae/uae/government/fnc-to-debate-scrapping-of-english-foundation-courses-at-uae-universities
(Edited to cut out unrelated subtopics)

ABU DHABI--The decision to abolish the English-language preparatory year for new students at the three state universities is to be raised at the Federal National Council. The foundation course has been in place for decades to help students who would otherwise struggle with degree courses taught in English. However, it is a serious drain on financial resources at United Arab Emirates University, Zayed University and the Higher Colleges of Technology, diverting funds from other areas, and the Cabinet decided last month that it should be scrapped.

Now the Minister of Higher Education, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak, is to be asked when that decision is likely to be implemented. “I have wanted to ask the Cabinet to remove this foundation year at universities since last June, but the question has since been delayed till now,” said Ali Al Nuaimi (Ajman). “Now that the Cabinet has decided to waive it, I want to know what the ministry plans to do, and for them to give us a timeframe of when it will be scrapped.” He said for too long students have had to suffer through a limbo year when they were neither school pupils nor studying towards their degrees, and universities have had to bear the cost.

The public session will be held in Abu Dhabi at the FNC headquarters, starting from 9am.

(End of article)

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Rather telling that they totally ignore the elephant in the room. It isn't a year of "limbo" - it is a year getting their skills up to the level that is needed. And, of course, we all know that it doesn't even do that as one year isn't enough for 90% of the foundations students. They really need 2 or often 3 years.

Either they dumb down their university to pidgin English using crib notes and rote memorization, switch all majors to Arabic, or keep the Foundations programs and even expand them.

Another option is to only allow students into the universities that can pass IELTS or TOEFL (or an equivalent level exam written for this market) including the essay writing portion... especially the essay writing portion.

VS

MuscatGary · Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 5:04 am Post subject:

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

MuscatGary · Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 7:30 am Post subject:

The only way that I can see it being possible to abandon Foundation programmes in the ME is to overhaul the school systems radically. We have students who have studied English from age 6-17, passed what looks like a tough exam but arrive at H.E. with poor to non-existent speaking skills and with totally inadequate writing skills. As for reading.... Rolling Eyes

TheMagician · Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Posts: 6

Always expect the unexpected, what seems irrational to all those at the chalk face might well seem sensible to those who are all powerful. Diploma programs demise was seen by some as improbable.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Solid Scotsman · Joined: 14 Apr 2011 Posts: 5 Location: Arizona

any updates on this? big meeting sunday night at UAEU. Maybe we'll find out then?

Neutrino Girl · Joined: 01 Apr 2010 Posts: 128

No one knows the nature of the meeting, so it could be anything. We will just have to wait and see I guess.

Solid Scotsman · Joined: 14 Apr 2011 Posts: 5 Location: Arizona