Abu Dhabi: A senior education official yesterday expressed his concerns over the poor performance of Emirati students enrolling in UAE universities.
According to Dr Mugheer Al Khaili, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Educational Council (ADEC), in the past 15 years only three per cent of the pupils in government schools got admission to universities; 30 per cent of them needed a foundation year to begin their higher studies, and 20 per cent struggled and then dropped out.
Talking to the media in an open dialogue yesterday, Al Khaili said society, school environment including buildings, curriculum, teachers' qualifications and the assessment system were some of the factors which contributed to this poor performance.
ADEC is taking this challenge head-on by developing and implementing plans to address each of these areas, he said.
ADEC has partnered with nine companies to leverage proven international standards into the local education system. Three additional companies are already being chartered to assess the educators' qualifications and performance, in addition to developing new criteria for assessing students' performance, he said.
These criteria will review elements beyond the traditional academic evaluations to include individual traits, analytical thinking, team work, self confidence and leadership. This is a transitional period that should last about three to four years after which schools will be responsible for self management and evaluation, he said. It will also focus on setting new standards for a cordial educational environment with an emphasis on building safety and equipment. The issue of closure of 22 schools is pending as the police and fire department have not given safety clearance to them. Some were even operating from buildings not certified as schools, he said.
ADEC will also focus on a standardised education process, moving away from the current concept of the "model school" as it disadvantages other schools and reflects inequality. Currently there are 27 "model school" across the country, Al Khaili said.
"The 2020-2030 plan is to move the country from being heavily dependent on petroleum and related material to one that depends on education. I am sure all of you are after one thing — the truth; and it is your role to convey it with integrity," he added.
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