Tim Oates is group director of assessment research and development at Cambridge University Press & Assessment
December 17, 2021
Research is vital to help us fulfil the potential of education. The Cambridge University Press and Assessment came out with a report this year on the form and function of assessment at age 16 that adds to the robust research that should underpin education reform around the world. Part of our organisation, Cambridge Partnership for Education, works with governments to develop education systems and with our research specialists to deliver evidence-based solutions. Together, we presented latest findings in October at the Middle East Education Thought Leadership Forum, attended by leaders, educators and students from across the region.
While it is important to focus on what should happen in higher education in terms of curriculum and assessment, our work suggests that policy makers and commentators need also to appreciate and understand the links and influences between different phases of a national education system. We have examined the form and function of national assessments at age 16 around the world, and the implications these have for higher education.
Higher education providers want committed learners, knowledgeable and competent in chosen fields with appropriate command of maths and communication, and able to both utilise social learning and to work collaboratively with others. Higher education can further develop these aspects of learning and performance. However, the role of institutions and the staff in them presupposes adequate development of both discipline knowledge and learning dispositions in prior phases of learning, and can add more value if these are well-developed in learners at their point of arrival. Indeed, the form and level of attainment of arriving students can significantly affect the content and duration of the higher education curriculum: there is interdependence in systems. It therefore is important to consider the role of qualifications and assessment at the ages of 16 and 18.
The role of assessment varies across the Gulf countries. In the UAE, formal examinations around 18 are used to demonstrate students’ attainment at the end of secondary school and open up opportunities for further education. Throughout the system, students are increasingly supported by formative assessment too. Those reforms will introduce formal assessment not only around 16, but every two years prior as well.
Gulf education systems are changing. The National
In Oman, students are already assessed every year, with a mixture of continuous assessment and examination from Grade 5 to 12. In Saudi Arabia, the Education and Training Evaluation Commission is developing a new National Assessment Programme and is asking key questions about the form and function of assessment.
With the disruption in education caused by the global pandemic, around the world voices have been raised – with old messages and new – regarding whether nations should have high-stakes assessment at 16. Indeed, some UAE educationists have discussed examination-free systems, an ongoing debate in countries such as England.
Keeping in mind the interdependence of different phases, in 2020 we updated our 2015 review of assessment in high-performing systems around the world. We did not ask which nations have exams at 16. Instead, we asked ourselves a different question: "What do high-performing systems do at age 16?" The results were extremely interesting. Of the 21 high-performing systems which we examined, all had high-stakes assessment at age 16 – assessment which determined features of the next stage of education, either in terms of which institution learners attended and/or which subjects/tracks the learners subsequently focused on. Of those, two thirds use external assessment as a key part of arrangements at 16.
Jurisdictions with external assessment included Singapore, Estonia, England, Russia, Japan and Shanghai. In addition, in many of these nations, external assessment was found to play a critical role in providing students with qualifications in subjects that they might not study again. Just like in England, where a student might choose to specialise in the arts at A Level, they have nonetheless been given a solid grounding and formal qualifications in maths and science, courtesy of the qualifications undertaken at age 16.
We found no evidence to suggest that abandoning assessment at the end of basic secondary education, or not adopting it in the first place, was associated with higher student performances at system level. We also examined concerns about using assessment at the end of basic secondary education for the purpose of accountability, concluding that repeat high performers such as Estonia and Shanghai indeed do so.
But perhaps the most important point is this: having specialist education in the 16-18 phase, where learners typically specialise in three to four subjects for two years, brings better performance at university.
The approach to specialisation varies across the Gulf countries. In several instances, students choose to follow either a literary, science or technical stream in their final two-three years of education. A specialist education in the 16-18 phase provides deep knowledge and discipline focus, which in turn allows short duration, intensive higher education. For specialisation in the 16-18 phase, assessment and qualifications at 16 allows signalling of which subjects a student can best study at ages 16-18, and certification of those subjects that they will cease learning at 16. In countries where families pay for higher education, such as England, they have an interest in the effectiveness, intensity and duration of higher education.
Where education is provided for free at all levels for citizens, such as in several GCC countries, it remains important to justify significant national investment and demonstrate progress. A key point from our analysis is this: three-year university degrees of high standing are dependent on specialising at age 16-18, which in turn is dependent on assessment at 16. In this situation, any voices for reform or improvement must appreciate the international evidence and the interconnected nature of the ecosystem that we call "national education and training".
Tim Oates is group director of assessment and research at Cambridge University Press and Assessment
Red flags
Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
La Mer beach is open from 10am until midnight, daily, and is located in Jumeirah 1, well after Kite Beach. Some restaurants, like Cupagahwa, are open from 8am for breakfast; most others start at noon. At the time of writing, we noticed that signs for Vicolo, an Italian eatery, and Kaftan, a Turkish restaurant, indicated that these two restaurants will be open soon, most likely this month. Parking is available, as well as a Dh100 all-day valet option or a Dh50 valet service if you’re just stopping by for a few hours.
No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book:I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 13', Kroos 28') Barcelona 1 (Mingueza 60')
Red card: Casemiro (Real Madrid)
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
An arms embargo
A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Two months before the first round on April 10, the appetite of voters for the election is low.
Mathieu Gallard, account manager with Ipsos, which conducted the most recent poll, said current forecasts suggested only two-thirds were "very likely" to vote in the first round, compared with a 78 per cent turnout in the 2017 presidential elections.
"It depends on how interesting the campaign is on their main concerns," he told The National. "Just now, it's hard to say who, between Macron and the candidates of the right, would be most affected by a low turnout."
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
