Dubai: Dubai education event What Works Maths brought together private schools from the emirate to share the results of TIMSS and PIRLS international assessments and to share best practices that help in improving education practices.
The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) event on Wednesday announced and compared TIMSS results that showed Dubai’s score increased by 17 points in grade 8 mathematics, and by 24 points in grade 4 mathematics, making Dubai the highest ranking participant from the Middle East.
What Works Maths also featured school-led presentations that included improving students’ maths skills in early years education, using games as learning tools at secondary level, and taking advantage of technology to improve learning.
Though Dubai’s scores have improved from 2007, they still remain below the international TIMSS average of 500.
International educator, academic and researcher Mike Helal, director of Parkville Global Advisory, Mena, told Gulf News: “Dubai’s average is below the 500 international average but people should not only focus on the average because the main aim of the assessments is not about ranking schools, countries or students against each other, they are about learning from the results to improve themselves. Dubai is improving the maths shows it and hopefully it will remain doing so.”
Dr Abdullah Al Karam, director general of KHDA, said: “Our improved performance in the 2011 TIMSS assessment proves that the quality of teaching and learning in Dubai’s schools is improving. Our aim in coming together here today is to further develop a culture of collaboration that will act as a driver for improvement in future assessments.”
— Noor Nazzal is an intern at Gulf News
