| 24 Jun 2009 |
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'Second chance' scheme helps 1,200 students
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Wednesday, Jun 24, 2009
Gulf News
Abu Dhabi: A foundation programme established two years ago by the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) has so far helped 1,200 Emirati high school students complete their higher education.
The programme offers tertiary education and a second chance to students, who were or are unable to join public or private higher education institutions, bearing in mind that each citizen should be given the chance to receive higher education opportunities, as per instructions by General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Chairman of ADEC.
The eight-month programme involves over 700 hours of instruction in English, mathematics, IT and leadership skills as well as a CEPA (the Common English Proficiency Assessment test) examination midway through the programme and an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) examination at the end of the programme.
During the second graduation ceremony for the foundation programme which took place on Monday 64 students graduated - of which 61 were girls.
"Our motive is no child is to be left behind, we are investing in educating our youth, and if they don't make it the first time, we'll enrol them a second time and focus on areas of weakness for another eight months; the programme has proven to be successful this year with up to 95 per cent of students passing the CEPA exam," Dr Mugheer Al Khaili, Director-General of ADEC told Gulf News on the sidelines of the ceremony.
Since the beginning of the programmes' initiation, ADEC has been collaborating with the Nord Anglia Institution (who run 11 international schools) to help students acquire the necessary skills to qualify to study at higher education institutions.
Paul Wagstaff, Director of Education for Nord Anglia, told Gulf News when the students first enrolled, an intensive development programme was required to help strengthen their skills, especially in English language.
"When Arabic is your mother tongue, learning English for the first time is not easy but each student has the skill and eagerness to learn and learning is a lifelong process. That's why we follow up with our students even after they finish their higher studies, and until we're sure they're fitted in suitable jobs."
The school will follow the English curriculum contextualised to suit the Ministry of Education curriculum, said Wagstaff.
Goals: 'We hope to be teachers'
Speaking at their graduation on Monday two students said the following.Shaima Al Shamsi, who studied at Buraimi public school in Al Ain and successfully completed her foundation gateway with ADEC and Nord Anglia, said: "The programme helped me enrol in college, and has improved my English tremendously. I can now write an essay, a letter, and express my opinions in English with confidence. I even listen to and understand Western music now. I have also learnt how to study, learn and remember information and developed leadership skills that will guide me to fulfil my career plans of working as a schoolteacher in Al Ain."
Salama Al Marzouqi has just completed section 1 from the foundation programme. She says: "I intend to work as an English teacher once I'm done with my foundation gateway, thanks to the support I have received from teachers and friends, who helped me decide what it is I want to do in the future."
By Dina El Shammaa, Staff Reporter
© Gulf News 2009. All rights reserved.
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