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

Presumably this is because they will teach math, science and IT in English, not Arabic.

VS

Takahiwai · Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: 93 Location: Libya

Yes, VS, the idea is that those subjects should be taught in English. This scheme began in 2006 in 4 different centres in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi with a life-span of 2-3 years for the provider companies. I can't speak for everyone involved in this scheme, but in the school where I work - teaching the teachers English and also subject-specific English - classes in those subjects are now taught in English, but not one of my teachers has a hope in hell of getting 5.5 in Academic IELTS. Furthermore, I don't understand the purpose of it - why would a kindergarten teacher, for example, ever find it necessary to be able to talk about or understand the kind of topics - e.g. geology, physics - which are routine in IELTS and the exam of choice beforehand, TOEFL. It's depressing to see local teachers, of whom there are all too few anyway, being put off by this type of unnecessary requirement, and the teachers hired from abroad, Syrians, Lebanese, Sudanese, Egyptians etc. are liable to lose their jobs if they don't obtain the desired result. I totally agree with your comment, 007.