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Adec hires 306 more Emirati teachers for new school year

The move comes in line with its strategic plan to recruit Emirati talent in the teaching field as part of an ambitious agenda to Emiratise the entire teaching community.

The Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) hired 306 new Emirati teachers in addition to 144 expatriate teachers for the 2014-2015 school year.

According to the council, the move comes in line with its strategic plan to recruit Emirati talent in the teaching field as part of an ambitious agenda to Emiratise the entire teaching community across public schools in the emirate.

At a meeting held to welcome the new teachers at Sorbonne University on Wednesday, Dr Amal Al Qubaisi, Director-General of the Adec, said teaching is as an onourable profession. It is the teacher who helps graduate a dependable and intelligent future workforce.

She said: “We are very proud of our new teachers who have chosen to take up teaching as a profession. It is without doubt that you have made the right choice, and I would like to assure each and every single one of you that you have our full support. The Adec will work with you to make sure that you are not only progressing in your career, but also enjoying your jobs as teachers.

“Your contribution is the reason why we actually exist to start with, and without you our work cannot be complete. We depend on you and trust that you will serve your country and children in the best possible way.” During the 2013-14 school year, there were 4,563 Emirati educators including principals, vice-principals and teachers. In the new academic year, there would 4,869 Emirati teachers which “is an evident improvement”. “It is also obvious from the numbers that there are more female Emiratis in the education profession than males, with 4,187 females and 682 males in 2014-2015. However, there are more males (in teaching) than the last academic year during which there were only 617 males.”

In the 2014-2015 year, there would be 255 kindergartens to Grade 12 public schools across the emirate, with four new schools opening.

The New School Model has been introduced in stages starting with Kindergarten to Grade 3 during the 2010- 2011. It will be eventually rolled out to all grades by 2016. During this academic year, Grade 7 will be added to the model.

As part of the 21st century teaching techniques, teachers are required to treat each individual student based on their areas of strengths, which can be further developed if detected early.

“As educators you are responsible for moving away from the former approach of rote memorisation and supporting the new trend of problem solving and independent thinking. Each individual student has a gift, and it is up to us to realise what this gift is and help enhance it, and to help you achieve that goal, all of our public schools have been newly refurbished and equipped with top-notch technology that will cater to your teaching,” concluded Dr Al Qubaisi.

The Adec has allocated approximately 10 to 12 per cent of its budget towards offering professional development and training programmes to teachers.

nissar@khaleejtimes.com