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		| Pikgitina 
 
 
 Joined: 09 Jan 2006
 Posts: 420
 Location: KSA
 
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				|  Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 7:00 pm    Post subject: The challenge: finding good teachers.  The good and the bad. |   |  
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				| An article for a change with a slightly different tone, but as mostly happens here, the plot's been lost again... 
 http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/education/finding-good-teachers-a-big-challenge-1.715536
 
 
 
 
 
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	  | "We now have wired classrooms, voice recognition and e-books which require both teachers and students to keep up with the technological pace," said Carl Bistany, President at Sabis. "This cannot happen unless we invest in ongoing incentives for teachers, such as on-line training courses to keep them updated and also an increase in salaries. At the end of the day individuals are attracted by money," he said
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	  | "Even though Abu Dhabi is working on rapid changes in the education sector, changes in the sector won't occur before an 80 year time frame." Emphasis my own. |  
 I think this deserves to be posted here as it highlights exactly what is going on in the education sector in the UAE: there seems to be a realisation that despite the massive commitment to spend millions of dirhams on cutting-edge education technology, there is no improvement in students' performance.  In fact, students are doing worse.  Unfortunately (at least according to the article's spin on what ADEC is passing on) the teachers are largely to blame.  Yes, there is a nod in the direction that teachers may need training and better remuneration packages, but what is at the heart of the matter is not - and of course cannot - be named/blamed: the culture of the Gulf.
 
 I guess the 80-year time frame is not as laughable as it appears at first.
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		| Sheikh N Bake 
 
  
 Joined: 26 Apr 2007
 Posts: 1307
 Location: Dis ting of ours
 
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				|  Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 9:08 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				| Looks like a typo meaning "8." |  | 
	
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		| johnslat 
 
  
 Joined: 21 Jan 2003
 Posts: 13859
 Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
 
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				|  Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 2:55 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				| What the heck - split the difference: 36 years (although that may be erring on the side of optimism.) 
 Regards,
 John
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		| veiledsentiments 
 
  
 Joined: 20 Feb 2003
 Posts: 17644
 Location: USA
 
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				|  Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 3:15 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				| That 80 year number is odd... even more pessimistic than us.  ...8 doesn't quite fit either.  I would think the turnaround would take at least 12 years for the first batch who started English in 1st year.  I don't think it has been all up and running for 4 years yet, has it? 
 VS
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		| Pikgitina 
 
 
 Joined: 09 Jan 2006
 Posts: 420
 Location: KSA
 
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				|  Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 10:51 am    Post subject: |   |  
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	  | Sheikh N Bake wrote: |  
	  | Looks like a typo meaning "8." |  
 Now that would be funny!
  Same number appeared in the print and online versions...  |  | 
	
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