88% fail to reach university

Dr Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec), said that the two per cent increase on the Common Educational Proficiency Assessment (CEPA) scores from the previous academic year “is not enough” and stressed more efforts are needed to increase the number of passers to higher education.

“Three years ago, only three per cent of our graduates were able to join colleges ... now it’s 12 per cent. This in itself is an achievement but it is not enough, it’s still low. Eighty-eight per cent of our children are losing out on years by not joining university,” Dr Al Khaili stated.

Passing the CEPA tests (Math and English) are required to get admitted to higher education. In 2008-2009, scores increased to five per cent, from three per cent the previous year. In 2009-2010, CEPA passers rose to seven per cent and to 10 per cent last year.

Previously, those who had not made the grades had to go through foundation courses till they were academically ready to join the university. But for the first time this year, places have been offered to some 3,520 students to study vocational courses at the Abu Dhabi Vocational Education and Training Institute (Adveti).

“This way, every student will get the chance to complete the educational process,” Dr Al Khaili said.

At the third Bedaya (beginning) Forum in the Capital on Sunday, attended by over 6,000 educators and school administrators, Dr Al Khaili cited the remarkable improvements in students’ achievements in communication skills, critical reasoning and problem solving subjects.

The gap in the scientific and literary stream has gone down to 5.4 per cent while the difference in the performance between boys and girls has dipped to 2.3 per cent. On the national examination results for Grade 12, passers from the emirate reached 90.3 per cent.

Dr Al Khaili also noted the implementation of the new school model (NSM) for Grade 5 classes this school year.

The NSM, which works on the concept of “teaching through playing”, is a student-centred education system that intends to develop the students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Around 250 teachers from native English-speaking countries were recruited to fill this year’s NSM implementation requirements.

Next year, prior to rolling out the NSM to Cycle 2 (Grades 6-9), Adec will assess the students’ readiness through examinations, and based on the outcome will implement the NSM either on the full Cycle 2 or only on Grade 6.

In fulfilment of its Emiratisation agenda, the Adec had tapped 404 graduating education students last year and those who passed the Adec requirements were offered places to teach at government schools. About 70 Arab expat teachers were also recruited by the Adec last year.

Out of the 268 Adec schools in 2011-2012, the council has closed down and merged 50, and opened 21 new kindergarten and school buildings. The Adec has also refurbished eight old schools.

olivia@khaleejtimes.com