A hands-on learning programme at a Ras Al Khaimah school is helping troubled pupils improve their behaviour and appreciate the value of continuing their education.
Saeed bin Jubair Secondary School turned to the Hands on Learning programme, which offers vocational training, to reduce the number of boys dropping out of school.
The forward-thinking approach was adopted in 2014 in partnership with the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research, a body set up by the emirate’s government to aid social and economic development in a variety of fields.
About 20 pupils in need of extra support at the all-boys school take part in the programme every year.
“Pupils at the school needed re-engagement back into education,” said John Kennedy, technical education instructor at the foundation.
“We see the benefits of the programme in their personal life and at school.
“Pupils would not turn up on time and they may be abusive to teachers, misbehave within the school or damage school property.
“These are the issues the school was having four years ago.
“Some of the pupils would leave the school within an hour.
“Vocational training has helped them as the majority of these children are more practical and enjoy hands-on learning.”
Minister of Education Hussain Al Hammadi spoke out about bad behaviour in the classroom in May of last year after a video was widely shared on social media of children dancing and singing in a classroom, jumping on desks and clapping while their teacher looked on.
High dropout rates, particularly for boys, have long been a concern.
It was found that in Ras Al Khaimah between 2006 and 2007 – the last year for which figures are available – 14 per cent of boys had dropped out of school compared to 2.5 per cent of girls.
The Hands On Learning programme is based on an Australian initiative that started in 1999.
Teachers select children with behavioural issues to take part in the programme for one day of the school week.
Children are taught carpentry, welding, cooking, construction, painting, financial literacy and also travel to prisons and museums to broaden their experiences.
A survey of pupils involved in the programme carried out last year showed that it is delivering results.
In the most recent term, no pupil left the government school before finishing his studies.
Every child polled said he was now concentrating fully during lessons, compared to 60 per cent the year prior.
Now, 83 per cent of children in the programme believe education is crucial for success compared to only 33 per cent in 2016.
Mr Kennedy said pupils took greater pride in their studies, and helped to decorate the school in honour of the Special Oympics World Games held in Abu Dhabi this year.
The foundation also sponsors two children each year to travel to Britain for three weeks to improve their English skills and be exposed to a different culture while living with a family.
Azza Alshehhi, principal at the school, said the annual trip “is a great chance for pupils as they will be staying with another family and they will learn to be responsible”.
“Not one of our pupils want to be absent from school now,” she said.
She encouraged other schools to try similar programmes.
“It affects the pupil’s personality, their attendance in school, and their academic performance in class.
“Some of the pupils used to always be absent but after being in the programme they became very confident.
“Some of them were ill-behaved but now we can see the change in pupils’ attitude and attendance. They are very co-operative, mature and confident.
“When I ask them to do something they definitely do it. Earlier, they used to come and go and had no respect for anyone.
“Now, all the pupils help one another out and they have also improved their academic performance.”
Ahmed Al Shehhi, a 16-year-old Emirati pupil in Grade 10 who is on the programme, said it had been of great use.
“I had behavioural issues earlier in dealing with colleagues and teachers but my conduct has improved since I joined the class,” he said.
“I am nervous about travelling to the UK the for the first time and want to learn about their culture, food and lifestyle.”
Grade 10 pupil Mohammed Al Humaidi, 17, said the programme had helped him become responsible and independent.
Ahmed Al Ghafry, 18, is also grateful for the initiative.
“The programme has helped build my personality,” he said.
“I would get in a lot of trouble earlier but I try to avoid these situations now.
“I am excited to travel to the UK and want to learn English and compare the similarities as well as differences in the UAE and the UK.”
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BIOSAFETY LABS SECURITY LEVELS
Biosafety Level 1
The lowest safety level. These labs work with viruses that are minimal risk to humans.
Hand washing is required on entry and exit and potentially infectious material decontaminated with bleach before thrown away.
Must have a lock. Access limited. Lab does not need to be isolated from other buildings.
Used as teaching spaces.
Study microorganisms such as Staphylococcus which causes food poisoning.
Biosafety Level 2
These labs deal with pathogens that can be harmful to people and the environment such as Hepatitis, HIV and salmonella.
Working in Level 2 requires special training in handling pathogenic agents.
Extra safety and security precautions are taken in addition to those at Level 1
Biosafety Level 3
These labs contain material that can be lethal if inhaled. This includes SARS coronavirus, MERS, and yellow fever.
Significant extra precautions are taken with staff given specific immunisations when dealing with certain diseases.
Infectious material is examined in a biological safety cabinet.
Personnel must wear protective gowns that must be discarded or decontaminated after use.
Strict safety and handling procedures are in place. There must be double entrances to the building and they must contain self-closing doors to reduce risk of pathogen aerosols escaping.
Windows must be sealed. Air from must be filtered before it can be recirculated.
Biosafety Level 4
The highest level for biosafety precautions. Scientist work with highly dangerous diseases that have no vaccine or cure.
All material must be decontaminated.
Personnel must wear a positive pressure suit for protection. On leaving the lab this must pass through decontamination shower before they have a personal shower.
Entry is severely restricted to trained and authorised personnel. All entries are recorded.
Entrance must be via airlocks.
THE%20SPECS
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About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE DETAILS
Deadpool 2
Dir: David Leitch
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Justin Dennison, Zazie Beetz
Four stars
SOUTH%20KOREA%20SQUAD
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Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
Dubai Women's Tour teams
Agolico BMC
Andy Schleck Cycles-Immo Losch
Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
Cogeas Mettler Look
Doltcini-Van Eyck Sport
Hitec Products – Birk Sport
Kazakhstan National Team
Kuwait Cycling Team
Macogep Tornatech Girondins de Bordeaux
Minsk Cycling Club
Pannonia Regional Team (Fehérvár)
Team Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Team Ciclotel
UAE Women’s Team
Under 23 Kazakhstan Team
Wheel Divas Cycling Team
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Croatia v Hungary, Thursday, 10.45pm, UAE
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
T20 World Cup Qualifier
October 18 – November 2
Opening fixtures
Friday, October 18
ICC Academy: 10am, Scotland v Singapore, 2.10pm, Netherlands v Kenya
Zayed Cricket Stadium: 2.10pm, Hong Kong v Ireland, 7.30pm, Oman v UAE
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Darius D’Silva, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Junaid Siddique, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Waheed Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Zahoor Khan
Players out: Mohammed Naveed, Shaiman Anwar, Qadeer Ahmed
Players in: Junaid Siddique, Darius D’Silva, Waheed Ahmed
RESULTS
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
FIGHT%20CARD
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Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
