Job Discussion Forums

[Noor]

ADEC Stresses on English as Medium of Instruction

Olivia Olarte
24 August 2009
Khaleej Times

ABU DHABI � In an effort to increase the English-proficiency of Emirati students and prepare them for higher education, the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) has recruited native English-speaking teachers to teach English, Math, Science and IT in the English language at public schools across the emirate.

�English is the international language of business and science and is central to Abu Dhabi achieving its vision of economic growth and diversification. 
We need to improve the quality of schools in Abu Dhabi so that our 
students perform above the international average and support the workforce with the right skills. To this, we need to make some fundamental changes across the entire system now,� said Dr Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Director General of ADEC.

On Sunday, Al Khaili welcomed 456 new native English-speaking teachers from Canada, UK, US, Australia and New Zealand during the first day of their week-long Cultural and Curriculum Orientation. All have gone through a thorough and detailed recruitment process to ensure the highest standards.

The orientation was held to ensure that the �new teachers understand 
up front what is expected of them 
and why they are here. Similarly, we want them to respect our culture and customs inside and outside the classroom,� said Al Khaili.

The 456 new teachers are the first batch of the 1,000 (both Arabic and native English) recruits that ADEC will be hiring to replace the 1,000 teachers who left due to retirement and lack of qualification, diploma or degree from the Ministry of Education.

Al Khaili said the rest of the native English-speaking teachers are expected to arrive before Eid, and all will start teaching immediately after Ramadan.

According to Al Khaili, only three per cent of the Emirati high school graduates passed the test to enter the major state universities � Zayed University, Higher Colleges of Technology and UAE University � while the rest have to go through a foundation programme in order to go to higher education.

The rating was based on the Common Education Proficiency Assessment 
test in English and Math conducted 
by the Ministry of Higher Education 
every year to determine university placement for Grade 12 students.

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

Thanks, Noor! This is news to all of us here...

NCTBA

[allyp]

They are not necessarily ESL teachers. These people are qualified classroom teachers who may or may not have ESL qualifications. These are the teachers TeachAway and others have been hiring for ADEC.

[Noor]

Thank you, allyp, for clarifying.

NCTBA, by "here" you mean the UAE? This board?

[veiledsentiments]

Perhaps both? perhaps he was referring to the 3% number... which I found interesting. Telling, isn't it? My bet is that it is going to take years to get it significantly higher. Probably when this year's K-2 students start graduating.

I don't see how they could possibly find this many certified teachers at all levels K-12 who also had ESL training. It appears to me that they made a choice... ESL training or Certified teachers. Put in their position, I would have made the same choice. In order to change the system, you need teachers from outside the ingrained status quo. It won't be easy though... for either the teachers or the kids.

VS

[Noor]

A previous article suggested 13%. Whichever it might be, it is certainly low. I'll be meeting some of these very students next week.

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

Yes, Noor, the U.A.E. (AND this board...including a few more...which can be confirmed by a simple post search) and yes, the previously published number was 13% which has been confirmed to me by CEPA insiders. Whatever the number, it's way too high and foundations teachers struggle daily with this reality.

That foundations are required is not news...

Hopefully, people who have been hired to flood into the primary and secondary schools (whom I suspect you are one as you previously posted mainly on the Japan board) will change the situation as it presently exists.

NCTBA

[Takahiwai]

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

And, that would be a bad thing?

NCTBA

[tatsuo1]