UAE schools told it's time to put kids before profits
Education experts have warned schools to stop putting profits before pupils and invest in quality teachers.
Speaking at the Transforming Education Summit in Abu Dhabi yesterday, Andy Hargreaves, Professor of Education at Boston University, said the standard of teaching is at a crossroads because schools are used to make money.
“Schools are used as an investment for short-term benefits,” Hargreaves said. “Establishers use education as an opportunity to make profits, which has diminished the quality of teaching in many schools.
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Schools are told: ‘Invest for long-term results and pay teachers more’
“Schools are used for testing research and equipment and little is put in for developing students’ skills.”
Hargreaves is among a number of speakers at the summit, which is being held to thrash out ways of improving education in Abu Dhabi.
With so many private schools in the UAE, the issue of profits is often a sore point with parents. Hargreaves warned schools often hire inexperienced teachers so they can increase profits.
“Schools need to hire good quality teachers who are well-educated and experienced so as to provide better education for students,” he said, adding that developing good teachers is the most important factor in transforming education.
“Teaching is from the heart. It’s a passion and practical. Teachers need to be motivated to love their job so that they can provide good quality education to the students.”
According to Hargreaves, education should be seen as a long-term investment for long-term rewards because it determines how future generations will grow. He also called on schools to increase salaries for teachers.
Speakers at the summit have also urged governments to invest more in education to produce a higher quality of professionals in the workplace.
Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was among the speakers. He said: “There is great need to equip citizens with good quality education. What can distinguish the UAE from other countries is the quality of its people and not the resources.”
He also appealed to the education authorities to focus on creating of a curriculum that can transform students into great thinkers so they fit into the job market.
The three-day education summit, taking place at Emirates Palace Hotel, has been organised by the Abu Dhabi Education Council.
ismail@7days.ae
Comments
by Savvymoi
Wednesday, May 09 2012, 7:43PM
“I do hope that some strict action is taken against these sick mentality schools and nurseries, who promise the parents so much, charge so much fees and hardly spend on the children whose parents are paying through their nose for the tuition fees.
There are nurseries I know that do not even put liquid soap in the children s bathrooms, do not put the heater on in the bathrooms in the winter and their lunch meals are pathetic. The hygiene standards are awful... I feel so sorry for the children who go there. The parents are not aware of any of this.
I do hope that something is done sooon for the sake of all the children who study at this nursery and many others with the same management mentality as this one.”
by WheelieBinDxb
Wednesday, May 09 2012, 12:13PM
“It's very sad that Education is seen as a business in many countries of the world but happily, there are many schools who do provide an excellent education while still making a profit. Hopefully, these schools also know how to look after their staff & respect them.”
by marinamonkey
Wednesday, May 09 2012, 11:58AM
“That's the one thing that will drive me out of the UAE when my kids get to school age. Far too expensive for a mediocre education here...”
by AAAli1
Wednesday, May 09 2012, 9:54AM
“Really its been going on since its inception and you have only just realised that. Too late as many of us have opted to send our kids overseas cause it was cheaper and better education.”