26 Emirati teachers complete Pathway to Promise program

Amideast/UAE is pleased to join the U.S. Mission to the UAE and the UAE Ministry of Education in celebrating 26 Emirati teachers who have completed the Pathway to Promise Program.

The teachers received the internationally recognized Professional Certificate in English Language Teaching (PCELT) certification at a ceremony in Dubai Knowledge Park. Representatives of the Ministry of Education, the U.S. Mission to the UAE, and Amideast attended.

The UAE led the way to present the program online for the first time in March 2022 for the first cohort and continued to conclude 4 cohorts in total. The training involved 120 hours of English teaching skills led by international trainers. Participating teachers attended workshops, completed assignments, and received guidance on creating and implementing lesson plans with practice teaching sessions. In addition to improving their teaching skills, PCELT graduates join a network of more than 1,000 teachers across the region who have completed the training since the program’s launch a decade ago.

“The U.S. Mission to the UAE is proud to partner with the Ministry of Education and Amideast to support the professional development of Emirati English teachers as they prepare students for careers of the future. The PCELT program underscores the deep educational ties between the United States and the United Arab Emirates that knit our societies together and demonstrate the enduring bond between our nations,” said Robin Solomon, Counselor for Public Affairs.

Amideast UAE Country Director Sara El Dallal said, “We are proud of the partnership with the Ministry of Education and the U.S. Mission to the UAE on the Pathway to Promise program where teachers went through the PCELT training and are now going through additional virtual coaching sessions till early June. It has been an amazing journey witnessing the teachers get hands-on experience as they practiced the skills and concepts they have gained with ESOL students and were able to get direct feedback from the trainers.

Congratulations to all teachers. We are very proud of their achievements and look forward to seeing them practice these skills in their classrooms.”

“The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education would like to congratulate the graduates of the PCELT course. Their perseverance and tenacity through the intensive program will help them bring the highest quality education to classrooms all over the UAE. The Ministry of Education would like to thank their partners in the Pathway to Promise program, the U.S. Mission to the UAE and Amideast, for supporting excellent education and teacher training in the UAE through the implementation of the Pathway to Promise program,” said Dr. Sameera Alhosani, Director of the Department of Humanities Curriculum and Languages Department.

Alia al Marzouq, Pathway to Promise Teacher, said, "The PCELT course provided me with a wealth of valuable knowledge and practical teaching experience that helped me improve myself. What I loved about PCELT was that it didn't bore me with just theories but allowed me to apply what I learned through fun activities like games, conversations, exploring, and practice. It was really engaging and enjoyable! As a teacher, I highly recommend PCELT to all pre-service and official teachers to gain deep knowledge about teaching in a fun and effective way using strategies and stages." Alia al Marzouq, Pathway to Promise Teacher.