'Two teachers to each class' scheme may be expanded

Two teachers in the classroom, one using English and one using Arabic: it's off to a good start in Abu Dhabi, and could go national.

Humaid Mohammad Obaid al Qutami, left, the Minister of Education, and Mugheer Khamis al Khaili, the director general of Abu Dhabi Education Council, centre, visit Al Dhabiania School in Abu Dhabi yestShow more

ABU DHABI // A new education model implemented at public schools in the capital could be rolled out to institutions across the UAE, according to the Minister of Education.

The minister, Humaid Mohammad Obaid al Qutami, made the comments during his first visit to an Abu Dhabi public school since the start of the academic year. Mr al Qutami was accompanied by Mugheer Khamis al Khaili, the director-general of the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec), who briefed him about the reforms introduced in the elementary grades.

"I think the new school model creates an excellent learning environment for students," Mr al Qutami said. "We are looking at ways in which we can implement this model in public schools in other emirates as well." The new school model was launched by Adec last month, at the start of the academic year. Primary school students are now being taught in Arabic and English simultaneously with the aim of increasing proficiency in the languages. Students from Grade 1 to Grade 3 are instructed by a native English speaker in English, mathematics and science subjects, while the Arabic native teacher will be responsible for Arabic, Islamic education and social studies.

Teachers have to stay back daily after school to receive training in the new method, and faculty heads have been appointed to oversee the development of staff. Shaikha al Shamsi, the chief executive for educational affairs at the ministry, said the new school model is an interesting initiative and its success can be replicated in other public schools. "If it helps achieve our objectives and reduce the gap between general education and higher education, then why not?" she asked.

Ms al Shamsi, who also heads the Future Schools programme at the ministry, said they had been in dialogue with Adec about the programme and had exchanged notes on the matter.  The Future Schools programme (or, Madaras Al Ghad) was initiated by the ministry in 50 public schools in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, and runs along similar lines to Adec's school model. A new curriculum is followed in English for high school, and primary school students are also taught mathematics and science in English.

Afaf Hassan, adviser to the Arabic and Islamic education teachers at the Al Dhabiania Model School, is already seeing a difference in the attitude of students towards learning after only a few weeks of Adec's new programme. "Having two teachers in the classroom is good because they can share resources and learn from each other's teaching methods and implement the best one," Ms Hassan said. "Teaching different topics in Arabic and repeating similar concepts in English is working," she said.

Not all public school officials are in agreement though. Mona al Jazairi, for example, the principal at Ahmed bin Majid school in Ras al Khaimah, does not think it is a good idea to teach primary students in Arabic and English. "Students will be confused," she said. "And it will be hard for the teachers to keep the students attentive in both languages." Ms al Jazairi would, however, like the ministry to recruit native English speakers who could assist public schools teachers and train them to raise the standards in the language.

According to Aisha al Jesmi, an English supervisor for nine public schools in Sharjah, students will ignore topics taught in English. "They will understand the concept being taught in their mother tongue, Arabic, first. Once they do, they will not care to understand the same thing when taught in English." [e-mail]