Abu Dhabi: While a number of professional development programmes are currently enabling Emirati women to improve their teaching qualifications, many teachers are still calling for better pay and more convenient training opportunities.
Professional development programmes must be integrated with working hours as much as possible, said Maha Mubarak, a Cycle 1 (Grades 1 to 5) teacher at the Al Ameen Boys School in Abu Dhabi.
“I was initially pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Education at a local university, but the hours of study were very long and I was unable to complete it. However, professional qualifications are very important for a teacher,” Maha, 26, who has been teaching for the past four years, told Gulf News.
She and 16 other Emirati teachers today (Sunday) received certificates for completing 60 hours of Pedagogical Studies as part of a Professional Development Programme in Education. The programme is being offered by the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland, and will now allow the certified teachers from the Al Ameen Boys School and the Al Raqiah Girls School in Al Ain, to pursue Masters degrees.
Speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony to honour the teachers, Hussa Salem, one of Maha’s colleagues also called for higher pay.
“This will make teaching a more attractive profession for most Emirati women. In addition, while I may not encourage my daughter to get into teaching at present, I would definitely push her to become a teacher if a variety of professional development programmes were conveniently available,” Hussa said.
“I hope more Emirati women join the teaching field in future, especially as it is a noble task that allows us to build upon future generations,” Maha added.
Having completed the first portion of their qualifications, Hussa and Maha are currently seeking to complete their Masters Degrees at the Finnish institution.
This year, nearly 25 other Emirati teachers will also be enrolled in the development programme, which is being facilitated by the Abu Dhabi Education Council.
“Finland is one of the world’s leaders in the academic performance of its secondary school students,……..and our aim is to provide [Abu Dhabi] teachers with the best hands-on experience,” said Dr Mugheer Al Khaili, director general at the Adec.
A five-year ongoing project between Adec and a Finnish educational organisation has also placed teachers from Finland at Al Ameen Boys School and Al Raqiah Girls School to teach Maths, Science and English. The project aims to encourage bi-literacy teaching techniques and an integrated education approach at public schools in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
