DUBAI // Parents of children with special needs are worried about the standard of classroom assistants being hired to help teachers.
The assistants are responsible for modifying classroom activities and assignments to meet the goals of children with learning difficulties, manage their behaviour and build their social skills.
But the 2012 annual education report by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) confirmed that assistants in many private schools were poorly trained and ineffective in their role.
"They mostly lack experience and qualifications in relation to the specified field of special needs in which they work," read the report.
A recent study of 35 assistant teachers by a researcher at the British University in Dubai echoed those findings.
"I have had parents complain that shadow teachers are not appropriately trained," said Dr Eman Gaad, dean of the faculty of education.
"In the interviews and observations, I found a majority of the teachers were not qualified."
She said it was alarming that some schools were hiring housewives with no specific training to assist children with special needs.
"Schools neednot pay them a lot and it was working out well for the mother who could be close to her child at work. It is a matter of convenience, not qualifications."
One mother of a child with dyslexia was sending her son to a British curriculum school, but moved him because he was making no progress.
"The assistant teacher was not addressing the needs of my child at all," she said. "They were not qualified, but then the school never claimed they were."
In a KHDA survey, one parent said the shadow teacher was caring but did not know anything about the child's condition and that she had to give her all the information.
"With more children being accepted in schools now, every day we have request from parents that they need a shadow," said Carolina Tovar, executive director of Child Early Intervention Medical Centre.
Ms Tovar said untrained teachers can jeopardise the development of the child. "If you do not have the right person assisting the child you are wasting his or her time as they are not gaining anything out of the school environment," she said.
Ms Tovar acknowledged there was a shortage of trained aids, but said it could be overcome with an appropriate training programme.
Maureen Bismack is an applied behavioural analysis therapist at the centre, who also who works as a shadow teacher. She recently went through training for the role.
"It was necessary because it is very different from a one-to-one setting at home or a centre," she said.
Jumeirah Primary School is one of the few examples of a private school that is getting it right. The Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau's report said the school had a wide range of skilled support staff who ensured pupils with specialneeds received outstanding support.
Philippa Bodien, an inclusion researcher and trainer for Gems Education who worked at the school, said they hired teachers with certain qualifications to work with children with special needs.
"But the applications are not always from people who hold a formal qualification in the area," she said.
"They aren't many around. So we are careful when we interview them to ensure they have some background in the field."
aahmed@thenational.ae
THE DETAILS
Deadpool 2
Dir: David Leitch
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Justin Dennison, Zazie Beetz
Four stars
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
COMPANY PROFILE
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The specs
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Final round
25 under - Antoine Rozner (FRA)
23 - Francesco Laporta (ITA), Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA), Andy Sullivan (ENG), Matt Wallace (ENG)
21 - Grant Forrest (SCO)
20 - Ross Fisher (ENG)
19 - Steven Brown (ENG), Joakim Lagergren (SWE), Niklas Lemke (SWE), Marc Warren (SCO), Bernd Wiesberger (AUT)
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How to donate
Text the following numbers:
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Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
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- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
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German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
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Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
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On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
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Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
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On sale: Now