School dropouts return to education

Dropout who returned to school highlights a need in the system.

DUBAI // Salmeen Khamis has been in and out of the education system many times.

Mr Khamis, 27, first dropped out of school as a teenager to take up a job in Dubai Customs in 2001.

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"I left when I was in Grade 9 to earn for my family," said Mr Khamis, who now works for another government organisation in Dubai.

"There was a lot of disruption in my studies because only my father works and there are nine people in the house."

Instead of spending time in the classroom with books and friends, he tried different jobs to earn a decent salary for his family.

"I left my first job and got a job in immigration," he said.

But in 2003, Mr Khamis realised that if he wanted his career to progress, he would need to complete his education. So he decided to take evening classes to complete his school course.

"It took a while because I was not getting good enough grades to enrol into a university," Mr Khamis said.

After three years he graduated from high school, again leaving for a job before enrolling at Dubai Men's College in 2009.

Mr Khamis is a rare success story. Most school dropouts are disillusioned by constant failure and a restricted education system.

About 22 per cent of the male Emirati population aged between 20 and 24 had dropped out of school and would not return to education, a study found last year.

According to Mike Helal, a co-author of that study, only one in three pupils graduated on time. Almost half (47 per cent) would repeat a year and graduate late, while 21 per cent would drop out without graduating.

"If a quarter of the central part of the national workforce has left school before graduating, this translates into low productivity for the country," Mr Helal said.

He suggested introducing more training for those who had left the education system early.

Adel Al Qeisi, a teacher at the Al Noaman Bin Basheer Secondary School in Ajman, said his school had introduced more interactive classes and field trips to tackle the problem.

"It is common for boys to consider work with the military and police more rewarding," Mr Al Qeisi said.

"But we are trying to divert them by making them aware of different professions and the benefit of learning, even by bringing in role models - professionals and university students - to talk to them."

MH, a 16-year-old Emirati girl who recently dropped out of high school, said many pupils stopped studying because they did not see the point.

"We know not everything we learn at school matters, so it's like wasting time," MH said.

She was unsure whether she would ever finish her education: "I do not really want to go back but I want to do some sessions in photography and get a normal job … but I am still thinking about it."

Pupils like MH need attractive options, said Mr Helal.

"Things like cinematography, travel and tourism in combination with an academic track with a strong career adviser at school," he said.