Purpose of education is to prepare students for future

At DBSJP, we consider it part of our job to teach basic manners

We would all agree that among other important functions, a key purpose of education is to prepare our students for the future. This includes teaching students the life skills necessary to succeed and thrive in an ever changing world.
At Dubai British School Jumeirah Park, a Taaleem school, students are taught important life skills as part of the curriculum and also during the course of the school day, for example at lunch time. Students can opt for the Rhodes lunch programme designed in collaboration with Michelin Star awarded Chef Gary Rhodes, which has been designed to facilitate skills such as social communication, table manners and developing an understanding of healthy eating.
Conversing around the dining table about topics of interest without the distraction of texts and social media can be a rarity in the home, but in school, students and teachers enjoy daily conversations which teaches great manners and social norms.
We can all recognise good manners in others, and some may argue that manners should be taught at home. However, at DBSJP, we consider it part of our job to teach basic manners such as waiting until everyone is seated before eating, passing the bread around the table and helping to clear the table. With very young students we do need to teach some of them to say 'please' and 'thank you', for others they need to be taught other social conventions, for example, holding the door open for others. Good manners make good impressions and are an extension of showing respect for others.
Most schools in Dubai do not have the facilities to support the teaching of basic life skills such as cooking and even how to wash-up! As part of the Technology Curriculum at DBSJP, students study units on Food Technology. Students learn about ingredients, the benefits of healthy eating, portion control, basic food preparation and how to use simple tools and equipment safely, such as a cheese grater. Due to the nanny culture these skills are lacking in many students.
At DBSJP we take pride in preparing our students for life so that they are equipped with the skills to meet future challenges and stand out from the crowd.
Heather Mann, Principal of Dubai British School Jumeirah Park, Dubai