The establishment of the Teacher and Educational Leadership Standards can be an important measure in strengthening the education system. It will align qualification requirements, and should ultimately raise the quality of teaching. Anyone wishing to work in our schools – whether as teachers or principals – will need to prove the adequacy of their professional knowledge. Fair enough. It is, after all, the least we should expect of our children’s teachers.
Of course, the project is still in its early stages, and a few hiccups can be expected. Last year, a pilot programme was launched in Abu Dhabi and Dubai before the first phase of the programme’s introduction across the country in the next academic year. More than 200 teachers were selected in Dubai and 400 in Abu Dhabi. These teachers went through the full process, from writing a lengthy self-assessment to completing a training programme and then, finally, taking the all-important exam.
In Dubai, more than half the 223 applicants failed. Among those who didn’t make the grade, 67 will need to complete English-language training. Fifty will have to resit the course.
It isn’t entirely clear how the disappointing results came about. But as we said, hiccups can be expected. For now, maybe it might be useful to match the results with the KHDA’s schools evaluation system. A more comprehensive understanding of the health of our education system might be had if we were to find that teachers who do well in the new standards programme also come from schools that perform admirably in the inspection regime. That is to say, good teachers equal good schools. Conversely, if teachers who didn’t fare well in the exam should come from schools struggling in the lower reaches of the league table, that would confirm the obverse. If such a correlation can be determined, it would show schools – and parents – where the dots need joining. Of course, should there not be a match between exam results and school standing, a wider rethink will be needed.
With feedback from teachers and school leaders, authorities now can begin to evaluate the nascent licensing process and, if necessary, fine tune it. Teaching licences, insofar as they standardise acceptable minimum standards of professionalism expected of our teachers, are a way of ensuring uniform quality across the school system. Let’s make sure it works.
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Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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
Rating: 1/5
