Saudi Shura Council member calls for teacher licensing system

Abu Dhabi: A member of the Saudi Shura Council, the country’s official consultative body, called for introducing a teaching licensing scheme and linking the teacher’s professional license to appointment and incentives, local media reported.

Dr. Iqbal Dandari said unlike special incentives which are granted to good teachers, the annual bonus is linked to inflation and the cumulative experience of the teacher, and it is his right like the rest of the employees.

The member of the House argued poor writing skills was a major cause of low academic achievement in general, calling on the Ministry of Education to criminalise the spread of offers for doing assignments and research in student services centrers, that are in the sight and hearing of the ministry.

“Assessment is a necessary part of the teaching and learning process, helping us measure whether our students have really learned what we want them to learn. While exams and quizzes are certainly favorite and useful methods of assessment, out of class assignments (written or otherwise) can offer similar insights into our students’ learning,” she said.

The member argued centres offering to do these assignments adversely affect the teaching process, leaving many instructors on the receiving end of disappointing student work.

“This can be remedied by criminalising these practices, so that only students can do their assignments,” Dr. Dandari said.