Schools set targets to rise up the rankings

DUBAI // It is not only the pupils who are expected to meet targets in the new academic year.

Headmasters and education officials are setting goals for teachers to improve their schools’ rankings and meet the requirements of the education regulator.

Schools say community service, focus on Arabic studies and using new techniques to teach mathematics and science are among the ways to rise in the annual assessments by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, or KHDA.

Rankings for private schools are set after inspections and meetings with teachers by officers from the Dubai Schools Inspection Board.

“The school is planning more activities for students to enhance their skills so they contribute more to the community, especially in the UAE and also in the Philippines,” said Richard Zulueta, pupil activity coordinator at the Philippine School Dubai.

The school, with more than 1,800 pupils, aims to move up from “acceptable” to “good” in the KHDA rankings.

“We want to help our students to learn about the UAE through educational tours of historical spots,” said Mr Zulueta.

“Different clubs will encourage students to be involved in waste recycling and waste management, and will tour recycling plants in Dubai to better understand the purpose.

“Teachers are also being trained in new technology and using the internet to make the curriculum lively and engaging.”

Tours to police departments, the courts and the Roads and Transport Authority have been planned to better understand how the agencies work.

“There is a plan to have more shared experiences with visits to the RTA to learn more about safe driving so the children can talk to their parents about it,” said Mr Zulueta.

“Visits to the police departments and the courts will help students understand what to do in the case of any emergency.

“They will also get familiar with the dos and don’ts in the UAE and how they should engage with people.”

The students will collect pens, pencils, notebooks and other supplies to help children in towns and villages of the Philippines affected by natural disasters such as floods and typhoons.

The school has introduced the new unified calendar of holidays announced by the Ministry of Education.

Classes for all grades will follow the calendar for the Christmas holidays this year and summer holidays next year.

Only classes for graduating students in Grade 10 will end in May, because the university year in the Philippines begin in June.

Staff at the two Star International schools in Dubai, which teach the British curriculum, also aim to move up the rankings this year.

“We have given our team of teachers the target to exceed this year and get higher ranks so we move up in the Dubai inspection ratings,” said Sayed Khalanthar, the director of education.

Both schools cater for about 980 pupils. While the Al Twar school is in the “good” category, the Mirdif branch must move up from “acceptable”.

“The skills of teachers are regularly updated,” said Mr Khalanthar.

“We face a challenge in British curriculum schools because the attrition rate is 20 per cent every year, so this year we have many new teachers.

“They are given in-service training and they receive orientation from the team already present so they understand about local culture and life in the Gulf.”

The inspection report forms the base for improvement.

“We share the KHDA’s inspection report with teachers and from day one we start working towards it,” said Mr Khalanthar.

“Teachers make sure that their teaching is not affected because of inspection.

“There will be an extra effort in the core subjects of maths, science and English.

“The KHDA last year put some stress on teaching Arabic, so all of this will be looked at.”

rtalwar@thenational.ae