DUBAI //The emirate needs more public nursery schools and more funding for early-childhood education, according to a report that education officials will present today to the Dubai School of Government.
It is estimated that only 0.1 per cent of the country's GDP is spent on early-childhood education and care.
"With low state expenditure and few requirements placed on early learning providers, both quality and equity may be weak," wrote Juman Karaman, head of projects at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, in her policy brief that will be presented at today's forum.
Less than two per cent of nurseries and 10.2 per cent of kindergartens in the emirate are funded by Government, according to a study commissioned by the development authority.
The study, titled Early Childhood Education in Dubai, was led by Dr John Bennett, a former educationspecialist for the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
The majority of the research was conducted between 2009 and 2010. Several other government departments gave their support to the research process.
The presentation will largely be based on Dr Bennett's findings.
According to the study, Dubai lacks the variety of government-provided early childhood education services that other countries provide: family day-care homes, drop-in services, parent support groups for stay-at-home mothers, play groups and family centres.
In the past 15 years, only five public nursery schools have been set up in Dubai, and there are only around 27 in the country.
In the private sector, there were 82 licensed nurseries catering to 7,551 children in 2009.
By contrast, only two public nursery schools were established in the same period, catering to 43 children.
Additionally, there is no regulation of education standards in private nurseries, which are the only option for most parents who choose to pursue formal early childhood education.
The development authority's study found that the majority of staff at these nurseries do not have a post-secondary level qualification for teaching.
About 26 per cent of teachers in Dubai's nurseries were found to have only a high school diploma, while 18.5 per cent had not even finished high school.
Moza al Shoomi,director of the Child Department at the Ministry of Social Affairs, said the department was actively promoting formal education, even for children below the age of 3.
aahmed@thenational.ae
European models predominate:
Most private nursery schools in the UAE follow methods developed in Europe. These models of early childhood education are mostly focused on allowing children to explore their own capabilities. Here are three of examples of curricula:
The Montessori Method
Based on the ideas of Italian scientist Maria Montessori, this style focuses on teaching children a range of problem-solving skills.
The Reggio Emilia Approach
This one is based on the belief that children should have some control over the direction of their own learning. Parents play an important part in the Reggio philosophy, which was developed for that Italian municipality’s public school system in the years after World War II.
Waldorf Education
This was conceived by Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner who founded the Anthroposophy movement. The technique uses play to teach kids the values of a peaceful and just society.
Public nurseries in the UAE tend to follow one of the European-based education programmes, but localise the content by adding Arabic language components.
* Afshan Ahmed
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
CREW
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The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
'Dark Waters'
Directed by: Todd Haynes
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, William Jackson Harper
Rating: ****
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
EA%20Sports%20FC%2024
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The specs: 2018 Jeep Compass
Price, base: Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.4L / 100km
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
AndhaDhun
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
Rating: 3.5/5
How will Gen Alpha invest?
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.
Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.
Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
Syria squad
Goalkeepers: Ibrahim Alma, Mahmoud Al Youssef, Ahmad Madania.
Defenders: Ahmad Al Salih, Moayad Ajan, Jehad Al Baour, Omar Midani, Amro Jenyat, Hussein Jwayed, Nadim Sabagh, Abdul Malek Anezan.
Midfielders: Mahmoud Al Mawas, Mohammed Osman, Osama Omari, Tamer Haj Mohamad, Ahmad Ashkar, Youssef Kalfa, Zaher Midani, Khaled Al Mobayed, Fahd Youssef.
Forwards: Omar Khribin, Omar Al Somah, Mardik Mardikian.
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
