Getting ready for work

The document prepared by the UAE Ministry of Education suggests some revolutionary changes in education, writes academic Abdullah Al Shaiba

There is no doubt that education plays an essential role in sustaining strong and healthy economies in most societies. Individuals have a fundamental interest in preserving structures of education that help developing economic aims.
- Winch, 2002, p.109

This fact has been a major guiding force for the new educational strategy prepared by the Ministry of Education (MoE). The strategy has confirmed that the only way to help UAE society develop a diversified economy is through revolutionary changes in education.

The crisis in our educational structure, according to the strategy, requires a comprehensive plan, not partial solutions that deal with every academic year as a separate issue.

Our new educational system must be based on international standards and it should include:

According to the strategy, the UAE will face two major consequences if the changes are not implemented.

Firstly, there will be a generation of UAE national graduates from public institutions who will lack the appropriate preparation in English language, IT, communication skills and leadership.

These individuals will not be capable of participating effectively in developing the economy.

Secondly, there will be an increase in the number of UAE national students entering private schools; this will pose an additional cost for their parents.

The new strategy, therefore, aims primarily to deal with the many shortcomings in the current system of education including the above-mentioned expected outcomes.

The final objective

The ultimate goal of the new strategy is to create UAE national students who will be bilingual (Arabic and English), IT qualified and well-prepared for higher education programmes and/or the labour market.

This policy has identified, for the first time in UAE educational planning, the expected outcomes of education.

But there are some important comments that may affect the new development process.

The suggestion of giving public schools the primary role in developing education and cancelling the major tasks of the educational zones might face serious challenges.

Some educators have strong doubts that almost 50 per cent of the current schools are not prepared to take over the required responsibilities in terms of human resources and administration.

At the same time, the decision of allocating the required annual budgets has not yet been confirmed.

Financial difficulties

There are fears that the strategy will remain a written document without implementation, or that most of its contents will be deleted due to financial difficulties. Finally, the new strategy has halted its predecessor the 2020 Vision.

Therefore, it is essential to confirm the implementation of the strategy even if the MoE undergoes major organisational and leadership changes.