Has the education system improved its grades?

Much has been done over the last decade to improve the quality of UAE education but much more needs to be done, writes Peter Hellyer

Students waiting to go in their classes on the first day of school at the Dubai British School in Jumeirah Park in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Along with the parents of nearly 860,000 other children, my wife and I made our way to school on Sunday to mark the beginning of the new academic year. After an eight-week break – too long, some would argue, while others might say it wasn't long enough – it'll be difficult to become accustomed, once again, to the routine of getting up early, getting ready and making the school run. And then there's the homework.

In our case, like many others, we have to get used to a new school as our daughter embarks on Year 7, the beginning of secondary school, and that's a challenge at the best of times. Fortunately, a large group of other children have moved up from the same primary school, so they can cling together as they make new friendships and come to cope with the new techniques of teaching and learning. I, meanwhile, will have to become accustomed to a new route and a new departure time as I learn how best to avoid the traffic, on what is a longer journey, and the worst of the congestion outside the school gates.

I wish all students and all parents well in the year ahead, whether starting out, transferring from primary to secondary, tackling key examinations or heading into the last year of schooling before moving on to higher education and the great wide world that lies beyond.

It's an appropriate time, perhaps, to ponder some of the changes that have taken place in the education system over the years and how those reflect changes elsewhere in society. Most significant, perhaps, is the way the private sector has emerged as the dominant education provider.

A decade ago, just over 40 per cent of all students, expatriates – both Arabic and non-Arabic speakers – and Emiratis, attended private schools. This year, according to figures published on Sunday, that had risen to over 68 per cent, with only 31.9 per cent of students attending schools run by the Abu Dhabi Education Council and by the Ministry of Education in the rest of the country, although a little under 10 per cent also attend private schools that follow the ministry's curriculum.

This reflects, in part, the changes in the demographic structure, as the expatriate population continues to grow. There are, of course, restrictions on entry into Government schools, where, in any case, the natural choice of Arabic as the medium of instruction rules out the majority of those of school-going age. Moreover, it's long been a Government policy to promote the growth of the private sector of the economy, which includes education as well as other areas. The growing percentage of students in private schools, however, also reflects the preference of many Emirati parents for the education offered there.

Much has been done over the last decade or so to improve the quality of state education, including teaching skills, the buildings themselves and the range of subjects taught. Work continues on revising the curriculum, inevitably a lengthy task, while subjects such as IT education have now, rightly, become a key component. There is still, however, a perceived variation in the quality of education being offered.

For example, it's been estimated that it will take several years before the reading levels across government schools will be on a par with the better private schools. Improvements have been made, but there's still a way to go.

A decade ago, the then-Minister of Education, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, set the goal of achieving “an educational system that is dedicated to community enrichment, to competence and commitment in the workplace and to broad knowledge, wisdom and strength of character for every student”.

A lot of effort has been made since then, and that target is now being achieved for some. How near are we to achieving it for all?

Peter Hellyer is a consultant specialising in the UAE’s history and culture