I am asked often how schools in the UAE are different from the US. I would say one difference is of course, the culture. In the UAE, parents have more difficulty letting the children grow up- letting go and not expecting them to sit down and listen. This doesn't mean the US is better- just different. While we see that as parental coddling, they see it as caring for their children.
I can't speak as to how junior high and high schools are different as I haven't been in any. But from what I hear, other than the curricula being different (due to the integration of bilingual ed) I am not aware of many differences.
The elementary is where my experiences have been. Elementary schools are called cycle one schools. If they house pre-k and kindergarten with grades 1-5, they are called cycle one common schools. I work at a cycle one common school.
The C1 schools are large. Most are the size of a big city high school- two floor with many wings. One side is for boys and one side for girls. Some schools have integrated boys and girls in the Kg1 and Kg2 classes. (Kg1 is pre-k..) There is one school here who has become coed through the third grade. I believe that is the direction ADEC (Abu Dhabi Education Council) is headed. There are 900 students in my school, kg1-5th.
The head of education in the UAE is called the DG (director general). That would be equivalent to the state superintendent. Under her (a westerner was just recently hired as the DG, a first I believe!) are the council and CMs (cluster managers). CMs are like superintendents. They have 8-10 schools they are in charge of, to make sure the schools are implementing the new curricula and monitoring teacher performance. Under the CMs are the Principals, then VPs, HoF (heads of faculty) and then teachers. Principals do not handle finances for the school. They have a small "stationary" budget that can be used for small needs. But an accounting firm handles all finances. As a VP, I monitor teachers, do evaluations (in team with HoFs and Princ), schedule all events, assist with student behavior when needed, as well as many other duties. HoFs are charged with making sure teachers are following the curricula and assisting with evaluations.
Student behavior varies from school to school, just as in the US. Some schools, such as mine, have worked hard to set guidelines and require students to follow them. The students are well mannered and hard workers. As are the teachers and staff. It is a great school.
In the classrooms, the students receive half of their instruction in Arabic, half in English. In the lower grades, these two teachers work together. In the upper grades, the students go to Arabic classes in the morning and English in the afternoon for all subjects.
Just as we are proud to be Americans, they are proud of their heritage. They like to show it off and share it with expats and visitors.
Below are pictures from the recent International Day celebration. The teachers dressed in traditional clothing from their country. There were 18 different countries represented. Ireland, England, Africa, Sudan, America, Saudi, Iceland, Germany, etc.
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| Boys performing a traditional dance |
