I must agree that lots of the training that teachers get is inefficient (Teachers say training is too repetitive and irrelevant, July 18).
Sometimes they are trained by people with no teaching experience in the UAE and therefore no idea about the culture and context. They try to impose ideas and suggestions that might have worked in their own or other countries but don’t necessarily work here.
Some other trainers don’t care enough to visit the school, observe the teachers and talk to them and then design the training accordingly. Instead, they depend on internet resources and books.
In many cases, Arabic-speaking teachers are trained by non-Arabs. Though a translator is present, a lot of information gets lost in translation.
On the other hand, some teachers approach training with a negative attitude. Some believe they have enough experience; others find that pleasing parents with good exam results is what defines a good teacher.
As an education consultant and trainer, I am convinced that a big part of the problem lies in the scarcity of awareness and training that accompanied the introduction of the new inspection framework and the rationale behind it.
It would be very helpful if inspectors provide some training during inspection, letting teachers know how they evaluate each standard and what they look for when they observe. Perhaps they could show teachers what an outstanding lesson looks like.
Amine Hamdan, Al Ain
Tolls won't stop road deaths
I refer to the proposal to charge for the use of certain roads (Toll system is considered for federal roads in the UAE, July 17).
This appears to be a money-raising mechanism when a life-saving one needs to be put in place. Generally, tolls are used to curb congestion or to operate private roads – these federal roads fall into neither category, but they are unsafe.
The quickest way to make the roads safer is through speed cameras. Reducing casualties and saving lives will enable the authorities to save money on emergency response, operations, hospitals, aftercare, loss of earnings, long-term care and more.
Paul Glover, Dubai
Pokemon is for play, not work
I have heard that some doctors are playing Pokemon Go at work (What is Pokemon Go and how do I play it?, July 17).
We shouldn’t encourage this.
L Kazim, Dubai
Service stations could be safer
The accident described in Two killed and six injured as motorist crashes into McDonald's at Ajman petrol station (July 18) is terribly sad and tragic.
This isn’t the first time such an incident has occurred. I suggest that restaurants and shops are built away from the parking area. Also, the doors should be made using stronger material. My prayers and best wishes are with the injured.
Fatima Suhail, Sharjah
Property prices linked to jobs
A quote in the final paragraph of the article, UAE residents prefer to rent than buy homes due to high prices: survey (July 17), reveals the primary reason that most expatriates do not buy property here.
Estate agent Ben Crompton says: “The problem most people are facing at the moment is job instability. If you think that you might get made redundant and therefore go back to your home country, then buying in the UAE really doesn’t make sense.”
The fact that expatriates can’t get permanent residence is a major factor in determining whether they will buy property.
Mortgage conditions can also be outlandish. Some banks are asking for a 20 per cent deposit and then require that the balance be paid in four or five years.
Standard mortgage terms overseas are 15 to 25 years.
Steve O'Brien, Dubai
It’s totally ridiculous that rents and real estate prices are on a par with New York, London and Singapore.
Sammie Wai, Dubai
Real estate will boom only when permanent resident status is available to expatriates.
Mohammed Kazi, India
