Abu Dhabi: Members of the Federal National Council (FNC) yesterday demanded that a federal council be set up to encourage unified reform in the education system across all emirates.
Members of the council warned that individual emirates' educational initiatives risk leaving other emirates' schooling lagging behind. Sultan Saqr Al Suwaidi, a member of the FNC from Dubai, said his concern is for the northern emirates which are not as actively engaged in educational reform efforts as their neighbours, leaving their schools lagging behind.
"Only a federal council can [make] drastic changes to the education system across the country and create the knowledge base and the workforce required to bring the future ambitions of the UAE to fruition," Al Suwaidi said.
While Al Suwaidi supported decentralisation in the education system, he said uniform educational policies for the entire country is fundamental to bridge the gap in skills development for all Emiratis. He said one of the problems facing education across the emirates is private schools outnumber public schools.
He added that another problem is that as many as 20 different curriculums are being taught simultaneously in different schools.
Most expatriate children are enrolled in private schools because state schools are not open to everyone. In Abu Dhabi, more than half of the school-age population is enrolled in private schools, which have never been heavily regulated.
Private sector: Committee set up
Humaid Al Qutami, Education Minister, issued a ministerial resolution setting up a committee tasked with private education affairs.
The committee will be chaired by Dr Abdullah Al Amiri, Adviser to the Education Minister.
It consists of members representing the ministry, education councils and bodies as well as representatives from private education sectors and schools.
Al Qutami said the setting up of the committee comes in line with the UAE's vision for the private education sector and its strategic and important role in serving the society. - WAM
