Mohammed Jumaa al Hosani, who was moved to join the profession by the shortage of male teachers in state schools, has a strong message for pupils.
Mohammed Jumaa al Hosani, the principal of the Abu Dhabi Secondary School, went into teaching because he wanted to pay something back to a country of which he is inordinately fond and proud.
He was aware that the UAE was suffering from an acute shortage of teachers, especially males, and he wanted to do his bit to help.
"I started my academic career on October 13, 1991," he says. "Now obviously I've been involved in academics since I was much younger - since I was studying at school," he jokes.
He began teaching accounting, economics and management at the Abu Dhabi Schools of Technology, a now-defunct establishment that was originally part of Khalifa bin Zayed School. Slowly gaining prominence there, he became a deputy in the administration, and later principal.
His rise coincided with the school's expansion and its increasing autonomy from Khalifa bin Zayed School. Eventually it broke off to become a separate entity.
Mr al Hosani later left to become the principal of Abu Dhabi Secondary School, but he remembers his old campus with fondness.
"It produced generations that later went on to have prominent positions in the country, and it had a role in educating them and improving the country, and we even had a role in educating young girls," he says.
His attraction to the teaching profession came from a deep-seated desire to make a significant contribution to society.
"I wanted to be productive. Working in education keeps you updated with all the concerns of people, and it feels more productive than other management positions.
"And I was trying to say 'thank you' to this country which has given us everything. We were suffering from a lack of teachers, particularly male teachers."
The severe shortage of Emirati men teaching in state schools persists. In 2006, only 48 out of 724 male teachers in government boys' schools in Dubai were Emirati, representing only 6.6 per cent. The number was higher for the nation as a whole at 11 per cent but compared with girls' schools, in which Emiratis made up 74.9 per cent of the teaching staff in 2006, the number is strikingly low.
Poor pay and a lack of status are part of the reason why boys do not become teachers, according to Dr Natasha Ridge, a researcher at the Dubai School of Government.
The issue has caught the attention of policymakers who are trying to attract more local boys to the profession. The Emirates Foundation is currently surveying young people on their career ambitions in an effort to find out why more of them are not going into teaching.
Despite the shortage of male teachers, Mr al Hosani is positive about public schools. "All the leaders of this country studied in government schools, like the ministers and decision-makers in the country. The schools produce a lot of leaders and we have the best curriculums."
He is also unequivocal on the debate that has arisen over the importance of English in schools in a country eager to hold on to its Arabic traditions.
"What we can do now is strengthen the English language." he says. "It is the language of the age."
Mastering it would help produce the next generation of Emirati recruits ready to participate in the country's industries, he believes.
His message for the country's students is equally clear. "They have to grab on to these chances and opportunities that the country offers them, especially when it comes to the different fields in education. They must diversify, work hard, and struggle."
Like him, "they must pay back the country's favours to them".
kshaheen@thenational.ae
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
MATCH INFO
Northern Warriors 92-1 (10 ovs)
Russell 37 no, Billings 35 no
Team Abu Dhabi 93-4 (8.3 ovs)
Wright 48, Moeen 30, Green 2-22
Team Abu Dhabi win by six wickets
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The%20specs
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Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
T20 World Cup Qualifier fixtures
Tuesday, October 29
Qualifier one, 2.10pm – Netherlands v UAE
Qualifier two, 7.30pm – Namibia v Oman
Wednesday, October 30
Qualifier three, 2.10pm – Scotland v loser of qualifier one
Qualifier four, 7.30pm – Hong Kong v loser of qualifier two
Thursday, October 31
Fifth-place playoff, 2.10pm – winner of qualifier three v winner of qualifier four
Friday, November 1
Semi-final one, 2.10pm – Ireland v winner of qualifier one
Semi-final two, 7.30pm – PNG v winner of qualifier two
Saturday, November 2
Third-place playoff, 2.10pm
Final, 7.30pm
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
