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Asian schools concerned about Arabic for grade 12

DUBAI - Private Asian curriculum schools in the UAE, already midway through the current academic year, have expressed anxiety on the introduction of Arabic language subject up to grade 12, soon after they re-open for the new semester in September.

"Teaching of Arabic language subject, particularly for the grade 12, and freshly enrolled students from India into higher classes with no knowledge of Arabic, is a serious situation and very challenging both for the teachers and students," the principals complained, hoping the Ministry will reconsider its decision and introduce the subject gradually in the higher grades.

Previously, the teaching of Arabic language, Islamic Studies and Social Sciences was mandatory up o grade nine. But, the new resolution issued last month has enforced private foreign schools and foreign communities schools in the UAE to undertake teaching of Islamic Studies, Arabic language and Social Studies up to grade 12 from the 2004-2005 academic year.

Dr Farooq Wasil, Principal of Our Own English High School, Sharjah appreciates the idea of teaching of Arabic language in UAE schools, but, decried the sudden imposition of the mandatory subjects from the current year, without a proper curriculum in place and the prescribed books yet to be ready and available in the market.

"Teaching of Arabic language will undoubtedly result in greater cultural understanding, but there is a need for evolution of proper mechanics to enforce the new subjects particularly in higher grades where students have either lost contact with the subject after grade nine, or are completely new to the subject."

Aabha Sehgal, principal of Delhi Private School, Sharjah, said the school would introduce the teaching of Arabic language once they re-open in September. "We have no option, but, to abide by the Ministry's regulations," she said.

"It is a challenging proposition, both for the school and the students, since we have very little time available in the current academic year to complete the prescribed curriculum guidelines by the Ministry," Mrs Sehgal pointed out.

"We have yet to speak to the students and their parents on the mandatory teaching of Arabic subject. We will discuss this in September," she said.

Madhav Rao, principal of Our Own English High School, Dubai, and Chairman of Gulf Council of CBSE affiliated schools, said, the CBSE school principals were to meet to discuss the modalities of introducing the new subjects in the higher grades, particularly in grade 12. Unfortunately, we were unable to meet. But, the issue has been brought to the notice of the Indian Ambassador to the UAE at a recent Indian Community Welfare meeting, and we hope he will take some initiative in this direction with the local authorities.

According to him, schools are gearing up to introduce the new subjects once they reopen in September but there is no proper agenda or mechanics worked out on how to complete the curriculum in a matter of few months left in the current academic year.

"It will not be easy for the grade 12 students to study the language after a break of three years." Since implementation of the new subject is mandatory by the Ministry, there is no option, but for schools to help out their students by offering extra classes and coaching in these subjects, Mr Madhav Rao expressed.

Another principal of a Dubai-based school believes that the students will face difficulties in coping with the learning of the new subjects combined with compulsory passing in the examination. He believes that under the CBSE system, students and parents are already under tremendous pressure with the approaching board examination, and this sudden decision of the ministry will make it very difficult to cope with their studies. He admits that the overall performance of the students in the Indian board examinations will surely see a decline this year.