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
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Honeymoonish
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FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
Company%20Profile
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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
Turning%20waste%20into%20fuel
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Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 720hp
Torque: 770Nm
Price: Dh1,100,000
On sale: now
India squads
T20: Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Krunal Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Rahul Chahar, Deepak Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed, Shivam Dube, Shardul Thakur
Test: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant
Company%20Profile
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Company%20profile
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Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
The team
Photographer: Mateusz Stefanowski at Art Factory
Videographer: Jear Valasquez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Model: Randa at Art Factory Videographer’s assistant: Zanong Magat
Photographer’s assistant: Sophia Shlykova
With thanks to Jubail Mangrove Park, Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi
Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
The%20specs
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SPECS
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Valencia v Atletico Madrid (midnight)
Mallorca v Alaves (4pm)
Barcelona v Getafe (7pm)
Villarreal v Levante (9.30pm)
Sunday
Granada v Real Volladolid (midnight)
Sevilla v Espanyol (3pm)
Leganes v Real Betis (5pm)
Eibar v Real Sociedad (7pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Monday
Real Madrid v Celta Vigo (midnight)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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