Facebook Debate
Gulf News asked readers whether school inspections help increase quality of education and are effective or is it just an excuse to raise fees? We present a selection of views that came in.
Affecting students negatively
I think inspections and increases in fees go hand in hand. Either way, the teachers, parents and students are affected and the schools benefit. There should be surprise inspections so that the school and its teachers maintain efficiency and standards at all times.
When there is an inspection that is announced, the school pressurises the teachers to prepare so many things beyond their limits and capacity. Students are pressed to learn so many lies so that when the inspector asks a question about the school, they say positive things. Children are asked to bring so many things, from library books to laboratory equipment.
School will create a new reason to collect money with which they will buy new flower pots, paint the school and buy sports equipment to showcase themselves. Some schools don’t even have a canteen for children. The result will be announced in the newspaper and other media, and then based on this, the demand for admission rises and fees increase. The purpose of inspections is totally lost. Back in India, we also have surprise inspections but they check the student’s books, talk to the teachers and understand how well they teach. The school provides justification and quality for the fees they charge, not the outward beauty and advanced technology the school uses.
From Ms Sheena George
UAE
Poor feedback
Being a teacher I am not in favour of school inspections. The inspectors are just another group of people who are employed and basically don’t do much to improve or provide suggestions for quality education. As a measure for them to check if they really are looking for improving education I would suggest that there could be a person from this inspection committee employed in each school for the entire academic year and monitor daily activity rather than pay flying visits, which only stresses out teachers and does no good to anybody.
I would appreciate it if this suggestion is taken in and the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) or the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) members are hired in each school and stay through the academic year and walk into classes with no prior schedules.
From Ms Dorothy Naveena
UAE
Inefficient process
Inspections are intended to result in increase in quality, efficiency, streamlining and standardisation of education across the board. But if it is previously decided, the whole point is lost. That is what leads to the scramble to impress the inspectors and get a high rating. Also, when it is coupled with a fee hike every year, the whole objective of an inspection is defeated.
From Ms Dhaarini Srinivasan
UAE
All drama
Honestly speaking these are all theatrics. Schools are given the dates of inspection and the principal along with teachers making all sorts of production for that particular week of the inspection. Afterwards, the school goes back to normal. There is absolutely no quality. It is purely for fee increases. If the ministry is really concerned with the quality of education, then there should be surprise inspections.
From Ms Jennifer Tellis
UAE
Income inequality
School transportation is controlled by a few companies. They claim to have Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking but it’s never there. About 15 to 20 years ago, an annual high school fees was less than what schools take for just the transport annually, now. Many of the bus companies do not refund fees if the parents decide to cancel it mid-term. Many don’t agree for one way service either. I feel sad that only the wealthy can provide good education for their children
From Mr Jasser Ali
Dubai
A way to raise fees
School inspections don’t increase the quality but just the fees. Who knows how the schools get outstanding results? School inspections are a big drama and a way for schools to earn money. There was always internal inspections and here the moment the dates of inspection are declared, the clean up starts. Suddenly the school bags become lighter and the diary get fuller, the teachers start to behave better, the bus becomes neater and the school gets repainted. When will the drama stop?
From Ms Rakhee Mansukhani
UAE
Should be a surprise
I used to be a teacher before and when we knew that there was an inspection, we would be cramming to do the best with lesson plans, visual aids and more practice of good demonstrative teaching. We would look for new and effective motivation and style, we would clean everywhere, improve the classroom and even improve hygiene standards for all students. We even studied in advance and gave assignments to impress the visiting delegation. So in my opinion, regular visits are good and should be a surprise.
From Ms Cora Virola Tarcena
UAE
Necessary
Inspections should be there but as a surprise. I think that if there is no inspection at all, then special arrangements and cleaning in the schools wouldn’t happen, and so they are needed for this purpose. However, I don’t think this should give schools permission for fee increases.
From Mr Umbreen Sultan
Sharjah
Homeschooling
It does not actually boost the quality of education. There should be proper training or workshops for teachers but eventually nothing is done. We, as parents, are so upset that sometimes I think we should start homeschooling rather than send our children to school.
From Mr Sadia Babar
UAE
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