Key features of new policy
Pupils to learn coding and other vocational skills from Grade 6
Exams to test critical thinking and application of knowledge
A new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance, Assessment, Review and Analysis for Holistic Development) will form the standard for schools
Schools to implement online system to encouraging transparency and accountability
An overhaul of India's education system is long overdue, experts in the UAE, where Indian curriculum schools will be affected, said.
Late last week, India's Union Cabinet approved a National Education Policy that affects curriculums from school to university level.
Its highlights include increased focus on technology, building vocational skills and drawing clear-cut career routes for pupils at an early age.
Experts told The National that the new policy would be beneficial to Indian pupils worldwide as schools would be forced to move away from a "swallow and vomit" style of learning.
[This] will really help raise the creativity of the children
Dr Arindam Banerjee, deputy dean of the masters’ programme at SP Jain School of Global Management in Dubai, said pupils were often overloaded with information that would rarely be of practical use after graduation.
“This is not just a policy, this is something that the Indian government has rolled out keeping in mind long term influence and a long due aspect of India.
“The forward-looking New Education Policy moves a step further towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision and dream of a new ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, meaning a self-reliant India.”
He said that India currently produced millions of brilliant and intelligent graduates but who lack the necessary basic skills for tomorrow’s economy.
Under the new policy, pupils will be taught sophisticated skills, like coding, from Grade 6 and they will be able to choose courses that fit the field they would like to study in university.
Currently, pupils are only allowed to choose concentration courses in Grade 11, which Dr Banerjee said was too late.
He said assessments under the new policy would rely more on the “practicality of learning rather than theories of learning”. This change will help Indian curriculum pupils develop skills in areas they are currently lacking expertise, including data analysis and artificial intelligence, he said.
Almost 80,000 pupils study at Indian curriculum schools in Dubai, most of which follow the Central Board of Secondary Education curriculum.
Dr Mansoor Shaikh, whose son is enrolled in the CBSE system at an Indian curriculum school in Abu Dhabi, said the change “was required from a very long time”.
He said the curriculum was too extensive and overwhelmed pupils.
“There used to be a lot of writing and study load so, from what I understand, that will be compensated with activities. That will really help raise the creativity of the children,” said Dr Shaikh, who has a PhD in information technology.
He said the previous system encouraged pupils to cram information for exams and was not preparing children for the job market on graduation.
“Any student had to study everything, which might [end up] being useful or not.
“Even subjects that were not necessary were taken.”
Refining subjects at an earlier age would also help pupils focus on their future field of work, he said.
“So from the beginning [my son] is getting an easier and focused life,” said Dr Shaikh, 47.
His wife Farheen Shaikh, a science teacher at an Indian curriculum school in Abu Dhabi, also welcomed the new policy as a diversion from the rote memory approach.
She said some pupils go through most of their schooling not applying critical learning because they just memorise information to regurgitate it in exams.
“If they are starting this [selective subjects option] from grade 6, and they are changing the way their exams are graded, it will be very good for the children,” said Ms Shaikh, 41.
“We used to do coding at a very late age, but now children are interested in this. If they learn it from an early stage it will definitely help the child.
She said some pupils were becoming overwhelmed with subjects they were not interested in but the new system will allow them to specialise in subject they are passionate about.
“They will really benefit mentally and they will be very relaxed," she said.
US Industrial Market figures, Q1 2017
Vacancy Rate 5.4%
Markets With Positive Absorption 85.7 per cent
New Supply 55 million sq ft
New Supply to Inventory 0.4 per cent
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: the specs
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plus rear-mounted electric motor
Power: 843hp at N/A rpm
Torque: 1470Nm N/A rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.6L/100km
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Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
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Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
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Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
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- Adapt your business model. Make changes that are future-proof to the new normal
- Make sure you have an online presence
- Open communication with suppliers, especially if they are international. Look for local suppliers to avoid delivery delays
- Open communication with customers to see how they are coping and be flexible about extending terms, etc
Courtesy: Craig Moore, founder and CEO of Beehive, which provides term finance and working capital finance to SMEs. Only SMEs that have been trading for two years are eligible for funding from Beehive.
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Cyclists must wear a helmet, arm and knee pads
Have a white front-light and a back red-light on their bike
They must place a number plate with reflective light to the back of the bike to alert road-users
Avoid carrying weights that could cause the bike to lose balance
They must cycle on designated lanes and areas and ride safe on pavements to avoid bumping into pedestrians
How to help
Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.
Account name: Dar Al Ber Society
Account Number: 11 530 734
IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734
Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Key features of new policy
Pupils to learn coding and other vocational skills from Grade 6
Exams to test critical thinking and application of knowledge
A new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance, Assessment, Review and Analysis for Holistic Development) will form the standard for schools
Schools to implement online system to encouraging transparency and accountability
