A group of more than 100 students from a school in Abu Dhabi have been congratulated by a department of Cambridge University ESOL Examinations for their commitment to learning English.
The young students, from Al Murooj Scientific Private School, were awarded certificates at a special ceremony today. The school is a Preparation Centre for Cambridge ESOL exams through International House in Dubai. The students took Cambridge English tests earlier this year and the successful candidates passed Cambridge English: Young Learners, Key for Schools and Preliminary for Schools - all internationally recognised qualifications aimed at school-age students. Cambridge ESOL's Marketing Manager Zara Shahid Khan says: "The students did very well and should be congratulated. By passing a Cambridge English test, they have shown they can use English to international standards. They can now use this success as a stepping stone to higher level courses that will help give a boost to their career and education prospects in the future."
Al Murooj Scientific Private School - which has been in the field of education in the UAE for more than two decades - began integrating Cambridge English into their curriculum at the start of the last academic year. They wanted an external way of measuring student progress and today's ceremony congratulates the first batch of students who took part in the programme. Speaking at the ceremony, Cambridge's Zara Shahid Khan praised the support IH Dubai provided to teachers at the school in the run up to the exams. She says: "All over the world we're seeing schools integrate Cambridge English standards into bilingual education programmes which is really encouraging. The exams have a positive impact on learning and teaching and play an important role in helping to raise the standard of English in the UAE."
Commenting from International House Dubai, the examination centre supporting the school, Centre Exams Manager - Clair Hattle, said: "We are delighted to be part of the success at Al Murooj Scientific Private School. The teaching staff were committed to offering the best qualifications to their students and we were impressed by the pupils‟ ability and conscientiousness when demonstrating their English skills. They are an example to be followed."
Masood Akhtar, Head of English language department in Al Murooj Scientific Private School says that they expect the Cambridge English exams to motivate students and benchmark their progress in preparation for international levels of study. On the integration of the Cambridge English: Young Learners tests into their primary programme, Masood Akhtar said: "The primary students were very excited to attempt the Cambridge exam like their elder siblings of higher grades. The exam has spirited the staff as well as they feel they are associated with a world class examination system. Overall, it was refreshing, useful and motivating."
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About Cambridge ESOL:
University of Cambridge ESOL examinations is the world's leading language assessment provider. It provides exams in English language for over 3 million people every year, in more than 130 countries as well as a range of qualifications for language teachers. Around the world, thousands of universities, employers and government ministries rely on Cambridge ESOL certificates as proof of English language ability. A Cambridge ESOL certificate can determine whether the career is progressed or a university place offered, while the broader examination results can help to determine a nation's education and investment policy.
It is a not-for-profit department of the University of Cambridge and is part of the Cambridge Assessment group, Europe's largest assessment agency which provides exams and tests covering a huge range of subjects and levels; more than eight million are taken every year.
www.CambridgeESOL.org
About International House Dubai:
International House Dubai (IH Dubai) accredited by Ministry of Education, is an affiliate of the International House World Organisation (IHWO). IHWO is a network of schools worldwide that are committed to implementing high standards of quality in education and training. IHWO has more than 140 affiliate schools in over 40 different countries, teaching 19 different languages. IH Dubai is offers a suit of Cambridge English Exams - KET & PET, KET & PET for schools, BEC and BULATS .
If you would like to speak to someone about the Cambridge exams and/or other IH Dubai courses, please call us on 04 321 3121 or email the team on exams@ihdubai.com
© Press Release 2011
