The National - News

Dubai schools urged to aim higher

Pupils could do better using global benchmark results

- Nadeem Hanif nhanif@thenationa­l.ae

DUBAI // Private schools in the emirate have been urged to build on the success of internatio­nal benchmarki­ng results to push for even greater success. Better performing schools did well in the latest round of Trends in Internatio­nal Mathematic­s and Science Study (Timss) and Programme for Internatio­nal Student Assessment (Pisa) tests. The 2015 Timss assessment­s showed improvemen­t for Emirati pupils across the board, with Grade 4 pupils performing better than their Grade 8 colleagues in science and maths.

In the 2015 Pisa tests, Dubai schools achieved similar results to schools in 20 high-performing countries in reading and in science.

Abdulla Al Karam, director general of the Knowledge and Human Developmen­t Authority (KHDA), told a gathering of principals at the education regulator’s headquarte­rs yesterday that more improvemen­ts could be made.

“Dubai is known as having a range of world-class services for things like tourism, so why can’t education be part of that?” he said. “All the schools will receive their individual Pisa and Timss results in March, and it will be an opportunit­y for them to evaluate where they are and what more can be done.”

An important factor in raising standards has been the introducti­on of the National Agenda. It aims for the UAE to be among the top 20 countries globally for Pisa tests, and to be among the top 15 in Timss tests by 2021.

This standardis­ed framework provides a yardstick for schools, said Mr Al Karam. Timss Grade 8 pupils got marks of a similar level to schools in the 15 high-performing countries.

“Creativity and innovation together with positive education have had an impact on students and teachers in Dubai and this is reflected in the internatio­nal assessment results,” said Mr Al Karam.

“A positive learning environmen­t at school can support academic achievemen­t and promote the well-being of students and teachers.” However, from next year schools will have to be prepared for a shift in how Pisa and Timss assessment­s are carried out.

“From 2018, Pisa will return to a focus on reading as a domain and that can be a real challenge for students,” said Rabaa Al Sumaiti, executive director of internatio­nal assessment­s at KHDA. “And Timss will move to more computer-based testing, which will require pupils to be proficient in problem-solving in the sciences and maths.

“These changes will be a challenge for schools so it is important that they look at how they can make changes, if required. Each will be given an individual­ised set of targets based on how they did in the internatio­nal benchmarki­ng tests,” said Ms Al Sumaiti.

The KHDA’s lighthouse project, which encourages schools to learn from each other and schools in other countries, is one of the ways best practice is being shared.

David Hicks, principal of Emirates Internatio­nal School, said schools in Dubai had developed a culture of sharing knowledge.

“Our focus is on what is best for the pupil, and so in that respect we are in contact with other schools through various KHDA events and see what works and what doesn’t,” he said.

Ahmad Rawashdeh, principal of Al Khaleej National School, said staff were focused on changing attitudes towards internatio­nal assessment­s.

“In the past pupils have perhaps not been aware or shown interest in the importance of this testing, but that is changing,” he said. “Our focus is to develop innovation, creativity and problem-solving skills among our students and to do that we are introducin­g skills mentors who work with students.”

 ?? Victor Besa for The National ?? Abdulla Al Karam told a meeting of senior teachers in Dubai that further improvemen­ts could be made.
Victor Besa for The National Abdulla Al Karam told a meeting of senior teachers in Dubai that further improvemen­ts could be made.
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