ES 7- Educational Development in the UAE PDF

Educational Development in the UAE in the UAE Questions to Consider 1. Describe the educational system of the UAE in the following periods: a. Traditional Schools (beginning of the 20th century) b. Semi-Formal Education (Mid 20th century) c. Formal Edu...

Educational Development in the UAE in the UAE Questions to Consider 1. Describe the educational system of the UAE in the following periods: a. Traditional Schools (beginning of the 20th century) b. Semi-Formal Education (Mid 20th century) c. Formal Education (beginning of modern education) d. Modern Education (after the Statehood) Questions to consider: 2. What are the differences between informal, semi-formal & formal education? 3. What factors led to the spread of modern education? 4. What educational developments were introduced after 1971?  Formal education Refers to the structured education system that runs from primary (and in some countries from nursery) school to university, and includes specialized programs for vocational, technical and professional training. Formal education usually leads to recognition and certification.  Informal education A general term for education that can occur outside of a structured curriculum. Informal education encompasses student interests within a curriculum in a regular classroom, but is not limited to that setting. It works through conversation, and the exploration and enlargement of experience. It can refer to various forms of alternative education, such as unschooling or home-schooling, self-teaching, and youth work.  Illiteracy The inability to read or write Lack of knowledge in a particular subject Ignorance Antonym: Literacy Ex: The ineffective educational system resulted in a number of illiterate students. Ex: Computer illiteracy is a major problem in a world moving towards online learning. EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Education in the UAE 1.Traditional Education (Before the Federation) Education is the means to achieving progress and overcoming under- development. The geographical environment had a great effect on the inhabitants’ social and economic life as well as their education. As a result, the hardships they had encountered in the 19th and 20th centuries made people head to the sea to make a living. Traveling, however, had acquainted them with diverse cultures, and made them realize the importance of reading and Education Before the Federation Education became an essential part of their environment so they followed certain methods of education derived from their environment & their Arab traditions in education. Islam has a great credit for the people’s eagerness to learn the verses of the Holy Quran by heart. Many Katateeb (Quranic schools) were established by some rich and educated people to teach boys & girls. A Sheikh or Mutawa was a volunteer male instructor, and a Mutawa’a , was a lady Katateeb  Mutawa’ Is another name for the Imam of the Masjed (Mosque). In the past, the Mutawa was usually the person who taught young boys and girls how to read the Quran, the Hadith of the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) and his biography. The word, Mutawa, initially referred to a person who initiated himself to do good things by helping others read the writing of the Holy Quran and adhere to the Islamic way. The Mutawa taught moral obligations to ensure that people followed the right path and did not deviate from moral and religious expectations. Education Before the Federation In spite of their need to seek their children’s help in diving for pearls, tending farming and grazing sheep, the UAE families were motivated by their innate desire to teach their children reading, writing and the Holy Quran The main reason behind the emergence of the Mutawa in the UAE was to teach children Arabic and arithmetic, in addition to teachings of the Holy Quran. Education Before the Federation Other reasons for the emergence of the Mutawa in the UAE were: – The need for the Mutawa to earn a living. – The absence of formal schools. – The need for spreading & strengthening of Islam. – To keep the children busy. – The spread of illiteracy. Evaluation of the Traditional Schools In spite of the disadvantages of the Mutawa system of education, that method of teaching was able to bring about some pioneers in education. It inspired people to learn & implanted in them a sense of loyalty. The methodology of teaching leaves much to be desired. It adopted unacceptable disciplinary methods such as confinement & reprimand. It adopted the method of memorization.  2. The Semi-Formal Education (1903 – 1952) As a result of the commercial & economic situation in the Gulf, the need for more advanced schools emerged. Merchants, because they sensed the importance of education in trade & cultural advancement, began to establish schools in the Emirates. Pearl traders and well- to-do parents paid for the cost of building schools and provided for their needs, such as school stationary and teachers’ salaries. As a result, “semi formal schools” emerged in the early 20th century.  2. Semi-Formal Schools ( 1903 - 1952) In semi-formal schools, science was coupled with religious education. A person was considered educated when he learnt the Quran by heart & grasped the Shari’a and the teachings and traditions of Islam. People’s main incentives for learning was to perform the religious rituals, to run their day-to-day business and to ensure the success of governance inside the tribe and among the various tribes in each emirate. Semi formal schools were established in all the emirates except Fujairah & Um al Quwain.  3. The Beginning of Modern Education (1953 -1971) The Emiratis felt the need to teach their children in formal education schools with integrated curricula and according to modern methods of teaching. After the discovery of oil, the population and expats working in the oil industry increased. A number of educational missions arrived from Kuwait Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt & Jordan. These missions took over the financing & running of the educational affairs in the UAE.  Modern Education in the UAE Soon, a leap in the quantity & quality of educational activities occurred. The outcome was the establishment of educational missions from the Arab countries which established the infrastructure of the Emirates Society. Apart from Abu Dhabi, which used the Bahraini & Jordanian curricula up to the 3rd grade, and the Kuwaiti curriculum at the secondary stage, all the other Emirates used the Kuwaiti curriculum. Students used to sit for their exams in  Formal Education After Statehood Education spread after the 70s due to the building of the infrastructure of the Federal institutions, such as schools and government establishments. In spite of the negative opinion expressed by some with regards to the educational situation, the UAE is still keen on developing education & safeguarding the spirit of the national identity. Efforts were made (in 2010) to prepare a Document for the National Education and the Social Studies courses that aims at strengthening the National Formal Education After Statehood Education grew and there was an increase in the number of students. Since 1971, the aim was to bring in an inclusive system and obliterate illiteracy. The Ministry carried out its programs, opened kindergartens, new schools, provided buses, science labs and libraries with plenty of books. According to Article 120 of the Emirates Constitution, the Federal Authorities must be the sole supervisory body for ensuring people’s national identity & deepening their sense of belonging to the national entity.  Formal Education after the Statehood The Constitution stipulated that education is basic to the society’s development and education must be compulsory in the elementary stage & free of charge for all Emirati citizens in all the three stages. The economic changes in the Emirates affected various aspects of growth such as: Private Education: All private schools are under the supervision of the Ministry of Education for the following reasons: Private Education in the UAE 1.To ensure the appropriate level equal to the state schools. 2. To make sure the schools are functioning in accordance with the universal ethics and Islamic values. 3. To help the private schools & institutions in achieving the UAE educational targets through supervision & technical and financial support.  Objectives of Private Education in the UAE The objectives of private education can be summarized with the following: – Helping in the general & technical education according to curricula and programs accredited by the Ministry of Education. – Expanding in the teaching of foreign languages besides the formal curricula set by the Ministry of Education. – Studying special curricula.  Other Educational Institutions C. Adult Learning and the Obliteration of illiteracy: the Ministry ensured the enrollment of children at the right age and attended to the needs of adults who missed the opportunity of education. D. Vocational & Technical Education: The first attempt to establish technical education was in 1957 when the British founded an institute to serve their need of training the technicians serving in their base. The first institute with premises & a curriculum was established in Sharjah in 1958. In 1964, the Commercial School was opened in Dubai, and from 1967 onward,  Other Educational Institutions E. Higher Education: the government realized early the importance of education in the process of building up a society and generating continuous self- development. Government spending on all stages of education represents 23.7% of the total spending. The Government established 3 universities in the UAE; The Emirates University in Al Ain, Zayed University in Abu Dhabi & Dubai. The Higher Colleges of Technology , In addition, there are around 57 higher education institutions. Principal Issues in Education The real step in education started in 1973 with a modest federal experience. The first attempt was the unification of the educational system in the various emirates. Before 1973, the educational ladder 6-3-3 in Abu Dhabi was different from the other emirates’ system of 4-4-4. Education had undergone a remarkable growth in the number of students, teachers and budgets. A system of educational awards was introduced A new system has been adopted which divides the stages into 2 instead of 3  E-Learning Platforms: Universities and schools in the UAE utilize various e-learning platforms, such as Blackboard, Moodle, and custom-built platforms, to deliver courses online. These platforms support multimedia content and interactive elements and facilitate communication between students and instructors. Blended Learning: Many educational institutions in the UAE have adopted blended learning approaches, combining online instruction with traditional classroom methods. This approach offers flexibility while maintaining face-to-face interaction where needed. Professional Development: The UAE government supports professional development for educators in using technology effectively. Training programs and workshops focus on integrating digital tools into teaching practices to enhance engagement and learning outcomes. Virtual Classrooms and Tools: Virtual classrooms enable real-time interaction between students and instructors, offering features like live video conferencing, chat, and collaborative document editing. This setup supports synchronous learning activities. Mobile Learning: With high smartphone penetration, mobile learning apps and platforms are popular in the UAE. These apps provide on-the-go access to educational content, allowing students to learn anytime, anywhere. Quality Assurance: The UAE Ministry of Education regulates online education to meet quality standards. Institutions must adhere to guidelines regarding curriculum delivery, assessment, and student support services in the online environment. Overall, the UAE's approach to online education underscores its commitment to leveraging technology for accessible, flexible, and high-quality learning experiences across all educational levels.