The real picture
I very much agree with the story on Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) inspections, where parents seek surprise school checks (‘‘School smelled of sewage, until the inspection’,’ Gulf News, October 26). I was a pupil of a school in Sharjah and all the inspections were given at least a month’s prior notice.
Our school teachers during the inspection days would teach to their best ability to try to make the class as creative as they can and make sure every student understands the topics taught at school. They even would behave surprisingly sweet with all the students.
The school also over burdens the students with more projects, posters and plays to put forward during inspection.
All lessons for the class are usually pre-planned and the teachers usually decide what questions would be asked. Sometimes when a teacher’s handwriting is usually illegible on the board, the same teacher would begin to write so neatly.
Moreover, the parents of the brilliant students are usually called to school and are informed about the inspection and only their numbers are given to the inspectors.
Due to the inspection, the school even recently put on a new banisters near the ramps and the teachers began wearing their identification cards. They even give more importance to the cleanliness of the school.
Most of the charts are changed in the classrooms only during the inspection. I would request that the KHDA give surprise visits and see the real picture of how schools are run.
From Ms Neha
UAE
Full name withheld by request
A teacher’s perspective
Surprise inspections will show the true colours of the schools. I was working as a teacher and two months of the school year just go to waste before the KHDA arrives to prepare for the inspections. The same lessons, which will be taught during that particular week, will be enacted so many times in front of the heads of the school - this is all drama. During the real year, teachers just make children copy notes from the board and then during the inspection week, children don’t even write anything. Every day, two to three topics are taught and lessons are rushed during that particular week. One topic is dragged on throughout the whole week to show the inspectors. This is fake.
From Ms Jenny
Dubai
Website comment
Change the attitude
When I saw this story on KHDA inspections, I wanted to congratulate them for their great work and efforts to improve the quality of education in Dubai. These inspection results in schools are getting categorised, however the school managements have taken this inspection process as a license to push everyone in the school to somehow secure a better ranking. All for the sole purpose of getting fees increased and making more money.
These schools push without the knowledge of the KHDA. Let me give a few examples: they push school teachers to showcase excellent class teaching work is going on when it’s all on paper, but never practiced. They push school children to be segregated into classes depending on their intelligence. Then, they manoeuvre KHDA inspectors to visit only high achievers’ classrooms.
All of the above is leading to a mockery of inspections, causing teachers, staff and students great stress and anxiety. Normal life in school stops, and everybody is running to please or impress the inspectors. I suggest stopping this annual ritual.
From Mr Rajiv
Dubai
Full name withheld by request
Seeking surprise checks
Being a mother of three school-going children, I agree with the fact that schools do a lot of cover ups during KHDA inspections. Getting rated ‘outstanding’ for the past two years, the school staff become extra nice and patient with children during the inspection week. Children who otherwise carry an 8 to 10kg bag are limited to carrying only four to five books in the inspection week.
From Ms Anju Annie
UAE
A profitable industry
The KHDA should do surprises visits to all schools to get the real picture! I feel that many schools are doing last minute arrangements for inspections. Teachers never trying to make students read out the lesson, but now all of a sudden, the children are supposed to know by heart one full paragraph of a lesson. Smelly toilets are cleaned and tidied. After inspections, schools will get good remarks and the next year there will be an increase in the tuition fees. Education has become a highly profitable business. In many schools the air conditioning system isn’t even working.
From Ms Geetha Narayan
UAE
Random checks
I agree that the KHDA should be doing notified inspections. However, successful schools should have one or two random spot checks prior to a final decision. As we know, some of the schools are improving their actual quality temporarily in order to obtain KHDA consent to increase fees. We as parents are the victims.
I would like to see all school uniforms in line with the culture of the country. Shorts that are too short for older girls should not be allowed. We need more emphasis on safety procedures of school bus services, such as seat belts and regular counts. Quality of education needs to be maintained. I assume the KHDA may conduct examinations based on the various curriculums, and it gives the overall status of academic achievement of schools compared to other schools.
From Mr R. P. Perera
Dubai
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No cycling?
I thought that cycling on the Jumeirah Corniche was supposed to be one of the features of this new track (‘Jumeirah Corniche fully open on Sunday,’ Gulf News, October 26). Now that is stopped. The cycling track exists only at the far end, in Jumeirah 1, at the Open Beach. But that beach and the track are now to be demolished due to a new project. The fences are already up.
At the same time, Jumeirah Beach Park is closed. Hopefully the rest of the Jumeirah Corniche will be completed to give more access to the beaches in Dubai.
From Mr Jarmo
Dubai
Website comment
Wanting to cycle
I am a bit confused by the article as it mentions that the work is completed, but it also mentions that you can cycle the whole way. When we went to the part near the sailing club yesterday, there were “no cycling” signs. I can’t understand why all this work would be done and to not allow bicycles?
From Mr Dod
Dubai
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Editor’s Note:
Controversial government action
I don’t think that the people or the writer of this story has the least idea what the present Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is up to (‘Modi’s success makes BJP a one-man party,’ Gulf News, October 26). It’s like watching a 200 crore or 300 crore Bollywood movie – lots of dancing and stunts. The BJP is doing a 100 crore club Bollywood movie in politics. They have been selling coal firms to private players; deregulating diesel prices by floating it with an international pricing scheme; succumbing to American vested interests with a signatory trip agreement; stopping the budget for the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA); opening up the Indian economy to foreign companies; showing the least amount of interest in promoting Indian firms and eliminating funds to research and development wings. This all shows that the government is in the hands of capitalists with vested interests and the Prime Minister is beating the drum for them.
From Mr Shereen Vijayan Kottikkal
Abu Dhabi
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Stirring up disharmony
To achieve development there should be peace and harmony. However, since the BJP came to power at the center, there has been an increase in communal riots and destruction of properties. I worry that the law enforcement officers and the state government are working together to create riots to achieve their political goals. How will development happen when there is disharmony?
From Mr Abdullah
Dubai
Website comment
Introduce new violations
The use of Google Glass by Dubai Police for traffic violators is a great innovation (‘Dubai traffic violators to be fined with Google Glass,’ Gulf News, October 27). However, what about drivers who block the fast lanes, playing with their mobiles devices, some reading books or putting on make-up? People driving at ridiculously slow speeds and swaying from side to side, always instigating and forcing other drivers to overtake from the right and this can lead to a violation. Blocking the fast lane should also be considered as a violation and a strict fine should be introduced.
From Mr Christopher
Dubai
Website comment
Slow driving
I agree with Christopher. It is indeed frustrating, especially after a hectic day of work. Driving slow in the fast lanes is such a menace and it slowly instigates traffic at peak rush hours. I agree that immediate action should be taken.
From Ms Sharon
Dubai
Website comment
Excellent news!
That is great news from the police. It should be like this with all police forces using technology like this. Maybe Dubai Police is the first to use Google Glass in the world. I highly appreciate these efforts by the Dubai Police.
From Mr Kaleem Ba Qattan
Abu Dhabi
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Editors’ note: Is there a news report that you feel strongly about? Something that has to be addressed in the community and requires resolution? Email us on readers@ gulfnews.com. You can also post a comment on our Facebook page or tweet us @GNReaders.
