Students write Arabic exams to continue higher studies in UAE

Expatriate students from Indian schools sat for the unified Arabic examinations yesterday, while students from other international schools are scheduled to take their exams in May.

The Ministry of Education has made this examination mandatory for those students who wish to continue their higher studies in the UAE.

"I think I did well," said Syed Asim Ali, a Grade 12 student. "I just want to clear the exams and am not that concerned about scoring outstanding marks. The school prepared us for the exams quite well.

"We are Grade 12 students and the last time we sat for an Arabic examination was when we were in Grade 8. It is only from this year that they have introduced it in Grade 12. I plan to continue my studies here in the UAE."

Principals at Indian schools who spoke to Gulf News said they were glad when they heard their students say the question paper was quite easy.

"Those students who clear this exam will be given an equivalent certificate by the Ministry of Education," said Madhav Rao, principal, Our Own English High School, Dubai.

"Equivalent means that both the expatriate students and the Arabic school students have taken the same exams," he said.

"The examination was tough on the students because they had not had long to prepare for it," he said. "Children are really not well prepared to take this examination. They had Arabic lessons up to grades 8 and 9, but then discontinued them for grades 10 and 11," he said.

"Initially they were resistant. We did our best and I think they will be more than happy to get a pass percentage - just enough to get the certificate."

David Morrison, principal of Westminster School in Dubai, said his students were well-prepared for the exam, which they will be taking at the end of May as at other international schools.

The May exam will be a different paper from the one sat by students this week, but will be of the same level of difficulty.

Morrison said at least 20 students from Grade 12 at the school would be taking the exam.

Unlike those at some other schools, Morrison said his students had been taught Arabic continuously.

"We've had no problems whatsoever. This was declared last year and we had a programme in place for it. The teaching has been straight through and we are very hopeful our students will be fine," he said.