T + T – normal size
His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Education, stated that the current academic year witnessed a large number of cases of national students transferring between the British and American curricula in private schools, and in the past the cases were few, and therefore it was necessary to find a committee to look into these requests.
In response to a question for “Al-Bayan” on the sidelines of the “Al-Ameen Councils” sessions launched by Al-Ameen Service in cooperation with the Dubai Media Corporation and the Community Development Authority, and recently held at Al Khawaneej Majlis in Dubai, Al Falasi explained that the lack of clarity in the idea of 13 school years in British schools among many Parents of students, is one of the reasons for their desire to transfer their children from the British curriculum to the American curriculum and vice versa, and therefore the committee formed by the ministry is studying the reasons for the transfer of this large number between the two curricula.
He stressed the need for students’ parents to pay attention to the fact that there is no difference between the American and British education systems in general, as the difference is in the age of student admission to the first grade, which leads to a determination of the number of years of study.
He explained that the American educational system is similar to the Emirati and other educational systems, where the student enters the first grade at the age of six years, and receives his school education in 12 academic years, and in the British system, the child begins younger, as he enters the first grade at the age of five years, and receives his school education In 13 years.
He stated that the school year, according to international requirements, the number of school days must be 182 days, and then there remains the distribution of vacations, explaining that in previous periods, the duration of the summer vacation was up to three months, which is a long period and is not in the interest of the student, and therefore Best practices are applied by distributing vacations in proportion to the student’s educational interest.
And he indicated that the multiplicity of educational authorities in the country gives impetus and enrichment to the educational process, and provides multiple opportunities for students and their families of different languages and nationalities, and therefore diversity gives integration, which is one of the pillars of strength for the Emirates, which is reflected in all sectors in the country.
His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi continued, that the “Covid 19” pandemic forced everyone to practice most life activities remotely, including education, and we have strong experience in this regard, because the UAE has a strong infrastructure, noting that the pandemic period witnessed global educational loss, and on Although our underachievement is lower than in other countries, it is important to take this into consideration.
Therefore, we adopt e-learning (distance) as an enhanced means, and not as an option as a stand-alone system in exchange for real or classroom education, as two options cannot be challenged, either for the general education student to be affiliated with only virtual or classroom education. He added: We can adopt e-learning as an enhanced means.
The student can study in the classroom, and see the educational platforms in which the curricula are available as auxiliary factors. Regarding the adoption of the “distance education certificate”, His Excellency stated that e-learning will become an essential part of the education system in general, as the student can receive his education remotely, which is one of the projects that the Ministry is currently studying.
He added that the ministry is currently accrediting the certificates of prestigious international universities that grant degrees for distance study, in addition to the fact that within the country there is Hamdan bin Mohammed Smart University, which is a local university, and relies on electronic programs. On digital education licensing, His Excellency Al Falasi said:
It is not possible to rely solely on distance education for school students, because it is necessary for the student to engage with his peers in the school environment, which is an integrated environment, to obtain life skills and future skills, and therefore it is not possible to adopt a distance education school for the student to learn in. All his years of study with this system.
His Excellency continued: The matter is different in university education, because the university student is more mature than the school student, who must deal with his peers and teachers to develop his personal skills, and what we saw through the data and results of the “Covid 19” pandemic period, proved that it is not possible to adopt a virtual learning school. Fully.