Join a Mailring at the
Teacher Mailring Center
http://www.teachers.net/mailrings/
Leo/uae - Welcome our first vistor to the UAE
Kathleen - Leo, how old are children when they are required to enter school in UAE?
Leo/uae - Kathleen, I'll talk about the educational system in general, is that OK?
Kathleen - Leo, please do as you planned, I'll take your lead:-)
Leo/uae - OK...The Ministry of Education is responsible for supervising the educational system in all public schools in which the same curriculum is taught throughout the United Arab Emirates....
Leo/uae - .....The educational stages comprise the following: 1- Kindergarten: This stage covers two years of education and is for children between 4-5 years old.
Kathleen - [hmmm 2 years in kindergarten, interesting, like a combination pre-k & k]
Leo/uae - 2- General education: This stage is compromised of primary, preparatory ( intermediate ) and secondary stages......
Aussiiiieeeeee - How old when they start secondary Leo?
Sunnie - we have combo junior k and k in some parts of va
Leo/uae - The primary education stage is 6 years for the age group ( 6-11)......
Janet/AR - Here there is pre-school and then headstart and then K.
Leo/uae - The preparatory education stage is 3 yrs and covers the age group ( 12-14) and qualifies its students for secondary or technical education....
Janet/AR - Leo, what are the administrators called there? Are they Principals, Superintendents. etc?
myrt/tx - Leo, are the secondary kids seperated like college bound and apprenticeship?
Aussiiiieeeeee - Whats the gender equity like in UAE schools Leo?
Leo/uae - Janet, they are called Principals ....
Leo/uae - myrt, yes they are seperated..
Aussiiiieeeeee - Do you mean like in academic streams myrt?
myrt/tx - yes, like most European schools do. Kids test into areas.
Aussiiiieeeeee - Eeewwww, they arent allowed do that stuff here anymore
Janet/AR - Leo, can you tell us about the technology of the schools there?
Leo/uae - The secondary education stage lasts for 3 years and covers the age group ( 15- 17 )...
myrt/tx - leo, what ages do the kids test to determine secondary direction?
Leo/uae - Janet, there is new technical colleges here called Higher Technology for boys and girls...
Leo/uae - myrt, from grade 10...
myrt/tx - so the kids are given a chance to grow up before placement? good.
myrt/tx - can the kids re-test?
Janet/AR - Leo, do the students there where uniforms?
Sunnie - i like the way that works--testing for placement
Leo/uae - ...at the end of the sec stage, the Ministry of Education issues the certificate of General Secondary Education ( GSE)...
Leo/uae - Oh sure Janet!
Kathleen - Leo, up to that point is education free to all?
myrt/tx - so they could quit after grade 9?
Janet/AR - Describe the uniforms for us please.
Leo/uae - This certificate is given to students who finish the final year of secondary stage successfully...
Leo/uae - OK, Janet...The boys wear white dishdasha which is a traditional uniform, girls wear white blouse and a grey dress
Leo/uae - Kathleen, YES Education is Free for All ...Locals as well as expatriates or forigners.......
KAM - How many years of higher education do you have to have to become a teacher there?
myrt/tx - what about University study? Is it free, too?
Aussiiiieeeeee - Can you explain dishdasha please Leo?
Leo/uae - The educational system in the UAE offers education to two groups, the gifted and the students with special needs...
Leo/uae - Aussie, it's a long white unform...
Janet/AR - Leo, Is there a scholarship program for students.
Leo/uae - Janet, yes there is a scholarship program for students...
myrt/tx - in secondary, how many classes are there each day?
Kathleen - Leo, are students identified as gifted placed in separate classes, or are they mixed in with the more average learners?
Sunnie - is school mandatory as it is here?? and at what age can a student quit school??
Janet/AR - Can you tell us a little about the special needs school programs?
Leo/uae - In addition to educational facilities and adolscents, there are also classes for adults who did not have the advantage and the opportunity to receive adequate education in their youth....
Leo/uae - Janet, there is a special city for the disabled called " Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services...
Janet/AR - WOW, a city for special needs. I would not have guessed that at all.
Leo/uae - myrt, there are 7 classes in secondary and intermediate as well
Leo/uae - Kathleen, they are mixed.....
Janet/AR - Leo, why are the special needs children not mainstreamed?
Leo/uae - Janet, I have no specific answer for your question..
Janet/AR - Thanks Leo!
Kathleen - Leo, at what age can a student "drop out" of school, and is that common in UAE?
Leo/uae - If a student failed in 2 consecutive years, he will be dropped...but there are always exceptions...
Janet/AR - I would like to say that I feel that it should be a law that all childern have to graduate from high school. NO dropping out.
Sunnie - leo--how early does that happen--that they are dropped
Kathleen - At what age can a student decide to leave school?
Leo/uae - Sunnie, when the adminstrator realize that the student is a hopless case!!
Leo/uae - Kathleen, primary education is obligatory...
Janet/AR - Leo, what is the teacher/student ratio there in UAE?
Sunnie - that's not a bad thing necessarily--at least students have to take responsibility for their learning
Leo/uae - I agree with Sunnie.
Kathleen - Leo, how do teachers discipline students in UAE? For example, what would be a minor punishment? AND what would happen to a student who commits a major infraction?
Leo/uae - Janet, 18000 students/3000 teachers and administrators in about 1100 classes in 139 schools....Is that good??
Sunnie - LOL i need a calculator
Leo/uae - Kathleen, no physical punishment allowed , there is detention at first, then the student might be dismissed from school or be transfered to evening schools!!
Kathleen - How large would the average kindergarten class be?
Sunnie - actually those figures are pretty good
Sunnie - if students know they will be dismissed for cause......
Leo/uae - Kathleen, the average class for KG ranges between 16-26
Sunnie - does that make the discipline problems fewer
Kathleen - Leo, what is the language used in class? Is it English?
Leo/uae - Sunnie, in fact discpline problem depends on the character of the teacher!!
Leo/uae - The language used in classrooms is the Arabic Language for all subjects except for ENGLISH CLASSES!!
Sunnie - same as here--give respect and it will be returned
Leo/uae - But in private schools English is the main language for all subjects!!
Sunnie - and is everyone required to learn english--or other language of their choice
Janet/AR - Leo, are sports in schools there a big thing?
Leo/uae - Sunnie, everyone MUST learn English and it starts from grade 1 in Public Schools...
Leo/uae - Janet, bigger than you can imagine...also art classes and cooking for girls!!
Sunnie - what sports leo??
Kathleen - Leo, we forgot to put into the record information about what your job is. Please tell us about your teaching responsibilities for those who read this transcript later.
Leo/uae - Soccer, basketball, volleyball, swimming..etc..
Sunnie - are the sports open to the girls also----and are art and cooking classes open to boys??
Leo/uae - I teach ESL i.e. English as a Second Language for 9th graders...I also do part time translation for post production studios...
Kathleen - Leo, what would surprise us about schools, education system in UAE if we visited there? anything?
Leo/uae - Maybe when you see boys and girls separated !
Sunnie - i think separating boys and girls is a great idea--private schools often do that--wish public schools could
Kathleen - Leo, how differently are girls treated in UAE? Do women have the same rights as men?
Janet/AR - What about the control in the classrooms? Would that surprise us?
Leo/uae - Kathleen, they are equals in schools...
Kathleen - Leo, what other languages are taught in the schools?
Leo/uae - Kathleen, in private schools they have French as a second language, French Language was cancelled in Public schools long ago!
Kathleen - Leo, how long is the school year in UAE?
Sunnie - and how long is the school day
Leo/uae - The school year lasts for 8 months for the students, about 10 months for teachers..
Kathleen - Leo, teachers have a much longer year! Tell us what they do when the students are not in class
Leo/uae - We mark the exam sheets, prepare the school for the next year.
Kathleen - Leo, would you post the url for the UAE site that you have shared with many of us (for the transcript)
Leo/uae - Yes sure... http://www.emirates.net.ae
Kathleen - Leo, how many years of preparation do teachers have before becoming certified? then is a graduate degree required (such as our Masters Degreee?)
Leo/uae - 4 years of preparation, two of them in the field!!!
Kathleen - Leo, what would a teacher in UAE say is the most difficult thing about teaching? Are students respectful?
Leo/uae - http://www.uaeone.com
Leo/uae - Most of them if not all are respectful...
Sunnie - i think 2 yrs in the field is preferable to 1 semester
Kathleen - Leo, do most students go on to college?
Leo/uae - Yes Kathleen...there are many universities and the latest one was the American University in Sharjah
Kathleen - When students finish schooling, do they find jobs easily?
Leo/uae - Yes, students find jobs very easily especially the local students...
Kathleen - Leo, I'm interested to know more about something you mentioned earlier, that disabled students go to a particular town for their education. Do they board there? What kinds of disabilities?
Leo/uae - All kinds of disabilities...The government of Sharjah City For Humanitarian Services gives a great attention to those who need special attention... There are also students from other countries...
Kathleen - Leo, so they are not educated in their home towns? Do they have to live away from home, or do they commute daily to the special schools?
Leo/uae - For students in special education, the ministry has set up classes in general secondary schools as well as adult education centres...
Leo/uae - these students are not regarded as being handicapped but simply as students required to participate in the development of their country according to their capabilities...
Kathleen - Leo, what is the most revered profession, which is the highest aspiration for a student in UAE? For example, in the U.S. it would probably be the medical profession- Medical Doctor
Leo/uae - Kathleen, this depends on the need of ones country....here they need all professions especially teaching...
KATE - Leo, are the job prospects good for a disabled person in UAE?
~ßJ~ - Leo---I just came from a staff meeting where we had a speaker address the "persistant difficult behavior stradegies" What do you think are the most the most difficult behavior problems your teachers face?
Leo/uae - Yes, especially in oil companies..
Leo/uae - The most difficult problem we face at school is that some students are so rich that they think they don't need to get a certificate!!
KATE - Leo, do the teachers for the special needs students receive any additional training other than the basic college training?
Leo/uae - Sure, Kathleen. They must receive a special training and they also get higher salaries...
Kathleen - In general, is the standard of living high in UAE? Is there a poor segment of the population?
~ßJ~ - Leo--then you do not encounter ADD and behavior difficulties like that in your classrooms?
KATE - Leo, are there any students with mild learning disabilities in your regular school or are all disabled students taught in a special place?
Leo/uae - Personally, no BJ!!
~ßJ~ - Leo---since this is a travel meeting too-----what is the climate like in UAE?
Leo/uae - KATE, there are very few numbers in regular schools...
Kathleen - And tell us what form of government you have in UAE, please, Leo :-)
Leo/uae - BJ, good question...
KATE - Leo, are there special programs for students with high intellectual abilities?
Leo/uae - Kate, yes there are, those students are sent abroad to the States..
Leo/uae - BJ, from the months of November to May the temp ranges from 18C to 25 with occasional rainfall during the winter months....
Leo/uae - Hot temp. and high humidity increase between the months of June and August..the average temp. in summer is 35Celsius!!!!
~ßJ~ - And where exactly is the UAE, Leo?
KATE - Leo, I live in an area with rich agricultural resources.....Does the UAE have any agricultural areas?
Leo/uae - BJ, between Saudi Arabia and Oman...It lies on the Arabian Gulf ( Persian Gulf )!
Kathleen - Leo, what happens to a girl, about 16 years old who becomes pregnant? Would she continue school?
Leo/uae - Kate, though the UAE has a tradition of subsistence agriculture and fishing, farming is handicapped by water shortages...
Leo/uae - LOL! Kathleen... I work at Boys School!
Kathleen - Leo, I know, but how is that situation handled in UAE?
Leo/uae - Kathleen, there must be regulations for such problems...I have no idea about this may be because I haven't heard that this thing ever happened here..
Kathleen - Leo, I'm glad that situation is rare there!
Kathleen - So, for me it is "Good night!" for you, "Good morning!"
Kathleen - Leo, enjoy your weekend, goodbye for now, and thank you for a wonderfully informative and interesting session! :-)
Leo/uae - Good night Kathleen and thanks so much for you interest and dedication to teachers world wide!!
KATE - Enjoy your weekend Leo!
Kathleen - Leo, it's fun because of interesting people I get to meet from all over. Goodbye for now :-)
Leo/uae - You're welcome...Any time Kathleen!
Leo/uae - Thank you KATE!! I enjoyed chatting with you all!!! (((((( TNET)))))!!!
