British schools in Dubai are being forced to segregate, increase muslim studies and sing the new UAE national anthem every morning. Quote from new Government Head of Education: "Boys must get a better education than girls". Head of Dubai College (oldest and amoung the most respected English curriculum schools secondary in Dubai) has resigned citing " .. landscape of education changing markedly .. " and " .. college's independence being eroded ..". This will effect all schools in the area.

This falls in line with a strong move, not just in UAE but other GCC contries, to push non-muslims out of the area and de-westernise.

It is expected to happen in the UAE, especially Dubai, sooner rather than later.

Potential Etihad and Emirates pilots beware!

:mad: :oh::suspect::=

That's OK. Just ditch the family, go on the wagon and learn how to wail ... :ok:

It's a total shock! Not because the content of your post, but because it's only a rubbish that's meant to make people freak out!



This falls in line with a strong move, not just in UAE but other GCC contries, to push non-muslims out of the area and de-westernise



Well, that statement of yours carries a lot of speculation without telling us how did you came up with it! Second thing, and more importantly, they will never send anyone back home if he/she shows the genuine skill and capability that they are always in need for. They also prefer a certain way dealing with them so that they like you and keep you next to them as long as you want to! This is the way it's always been in the place I work and live in, so never generalize!

I can understand that living and working in this part of the world will require an expat to adapt in such a way that is not possible for many. But I see it as an interesting experience that is very rewarding!



Cheers

It's OK as long as you can fit into a medieval dictatorship transvested into a 'modern' society. Remember, once established there with family you have to accept their rules, that obviously can change.

What BS, do you acctually live in Dubai? do you know what makes Dubai tic? money laundering, prostitution and drug smugling, do you honestly beleive they will ever even attempt to get rid of the expats, when they make up 90% of the population, if not more?and for everyone complaining about how strict it is, the rules have always been the same, and have never changed, just dont get caught and do not flaunt it. I have seen another thread about mall fines, some people in this city really are deluded, The clothes some people put on in Dubai would get you serious stares in western countries, and im not talking about abayas...

British schools in Dubai are being forced to segregate
Not heard of this at all.

increase muslim studies and sing the new UAE national anthem every morning
Very much the truth, to the concern of many parents as other parts of the curriculum suffer. :eek:

Kid at a well known "English Speaking School".

Ok, so its their country and its their rules. What is the big surprise?
Singing the national anthem...if you dont like it,ever heard of lip sync???

As for the increase in muslim studies, maybe there is an option to skip those subjects (based on religeous reasons) or some other solution if you are not happy with it.

No one is forcing you to be there and you will never change their system, so you can stay and make the best of what you have while you are there or you can vote with your feet.

Some facts:

- The headmaster of Dubai College steps down saying that the KHDA (education ministry) interferes too heavily into sillaby of schools.

- The KHDA wants to implement measures to motivate boys to finish high school and especially to take up university education. The drop out rate seems to be at more than 50%, at universities the girl percentage is higher than 80%.

- The national anthem has to be performed at any school every morning.

- The mandatory Arabic at all schools is not been followed. The KHDA emphasised this regulation. However above grade 10 it may be substitued by another language.

Make out of that whatever you want. The national anthem is highly cuddled in the USA as well and nobody complains. Local language is a quite logical subject in almost any school, allthough private foreign education is mostly exempt. The interference of the ministry into private schools is not bad, as it generally checks quality as well as content. The paranoia of the local rulers might go a bit too far, but that's not a UAE exclusive phenomenon.
The only thing that is really potentially dangerous, is the drop out rate of local boys. It shows their contempt to work, their lack of education from their parents, their attitude of beeing the elected, not having to work or study. The only thing they are interested in is money (from parents), girls (east european hookers), drugs (available abubdantly), KFC (obesity), cars (they drive from 10 onwards, that's why the authorities want it legal to drive from 16, as to legalise the unbelievable huge accident rate of young local males - so everyone has to pay their mess through legal insurancew).
When they get bypassed by their own sisters, hard working and well educated expats, they tend to fall back on the easy way of radical islam, to all the primitive supremacy babble and supposedly beeing the chosen ones. They are prey of the dangerous yelling from loudspeakers that puts them into the oppressive driver seat without any competence but a lot of blind-hate power.

That's the real danger around here. It's not happening right now, but it's in the making, has been demonstrated elsewhere, and THIS needs the attention of the rulers, not well structured western schools.

What has been happening in blighty over the years then?Is it Westernising?
Kids are no longer taught about their own country's values, history or to be proud to announce their(English) nationality.
Why is St Patrick day celebrated and not St George's day?And so on.

This is not the case in AUH....cant speak for DXB :rolleyes:

GMDS
A good post and some well made points.


Personally, I don't have a problem with the national anthem being played every morning. As for lip sync - :ok:

My concern is the increase in Arabic lessons taking time away from the available teaching for the main curriculum. 4 lessons a week now, up from 1 or 2, and no extra time made available for the other subjects.

maybe there is an option to skip those subjects (based on religeous reasons) Nice idea, about as successful as complaining about the noise from the Mosque :{

Meanwhile, back to the beer and scratchings...........:}

The National's Kathryn Lewis updating today's front paper page story
DUBAI: Some of the emirate’s leading schools will be downgraded in the next round of government inspections because of a new emphasis on teaching Arabic.
Dubai’s school authority, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KDHA), confirmed yesterday that some schools which were ranked “outstanding” last year had been marked down because they had not made sufficient improvements in Arabic language and Islamic studies instruction.
Four British-curriculum schools topped the rankings in the last round of inspections – the two branches of Jumeirah English Speaking School, Jumeirah College and Kings Dubai.
It is understood that three of them have lost their “outstanding” ranking, while an inspection is still going on at the fourth.
The looming downgrades are a serious blow to the schools as their ability to raise fees is linked to their performance in the inspections.
After last year’s inaugural round of inspections, schools were told their future scores would depend on improvements in Arabic and Islamic studies classes.
The warning came after inspectors found that one in 10 schools were not complying with Ministry of Education requirements and 71 per cent of private school pupils were not making progress in Arabic.
Andrew Turner, whose daughter is a student at Dubai College, said he was concerned that the KDHA was compromising quality, and giving Arabic language and Islamic studies more priority than core subjects.
While he understood the need to study local culture, Mr Turner added: “Parents are sending our kids to learn the British curriculum, not to study the Islamic culture and Arabic. We send them to a British curriculum school to get a British education.”
However, officials from the KHDA said since a high number of Emiratis and Arab expatriates attended private schools, these subjects remained of the utmost importance.
“Dubai’s private schools have high numbers of nationals and Arab expats so the teaching of their language must be taken seriously,” said Dr Abdulla al Karam, director-general of the KHDA, told the Arabic language paper Emarat al Youm.
“Ignoring the language or teaching it badly does not reflect the cultural values of Dubai.”
On Sunday, Dr Carlo Ferrario, the headmaster of Dubai College, one of the country’s most prestigious schools, resigned in protest over what he called interference from government agencies.
The KDHA said it was “sorry” to hear that Dr Ferrario had cited inspections as a reason for leaving, and assured parents that the board and management of Dubai College had “stated their support” for inspections.
But Dr Ferrario’s resignation reignited the debate over government regulation of privately owned and operated schools.
“People prefer to work in a deregulated market,” said Clive Pierrepont, director of marketing and communications for Taaleem, the second largest private school operator in Dubai.
Taaleem, Mr Pierrepont said, “would prefer to work in a market that is accredited by international bodies rather than regulated by local bodies”.
Mr Turner said: “It is clear that the regime of inspections is misaligned with the core responsibility of our top schools to maintain the standards of education that they have over the past years.
“To see these standards be eroded in such a way as to cause one of the most experienced educators in the emirate, Dr Ferrario, to resign is a great cause for concern.
“Dubai College is one of the top British curriculum schools in the world, delivering an outstanding standard of education. The fact that the KHDA do not recognise this through their processes of inspections says more about KHDA processes than it does about Dubai College.”
Schools say regulatory bodies should have limited power in overseeing private institutions and many have called for the abolishment of fee caps.
Under previous federal rules, schools were only permitted a maximum annual tuition increase of eight per cent. The new KHDA rules allow for larger increases for most schools, but these are determined according to inspection scores.
While some parents have questioned the Government’s decision to emphasise Arabic and Islamic studies, principals protest that finding qualified teachers for both subjects remains difficult.
Mr Pierrepont said it was “extremely difficult” to find “great” Islamic studies and Arabic teachers.
Since government schools in the UAE are open only to Emiratis and Arab expatriates, 85 per cent of pupils in Dubai attend private schools. Those in favour of increased regulation suggest that this unusual situation justifies a larger degree of government oversight.
“From what I can see, the Government needs to protect parents from unscrupulous operators who are purely driven by a profit mentality,” said Dr Natasha Ridge, a fellow at the Dubai School of Government and an expert on education in the UAE.
“You have almost a monopoly environment and people cannot send their kids to public schools.”
The parent of a child at Repton, who did not want to be named, said she did not have a problem with the government requirements for Arabic, but schools should not be downgraded for failing to comply with them.

Dubai is what it is ,all you need to do is remember that you are a guest.and if you dont like it then just leave.its very simple you will find the same idiots in any company with the same personality but diff face.Dubai has lost its charm which did exist in the 80 90s and yes its full of aerogant people who really had nothing but now play golf and drive nice cars.but everyone knows this :ugh:

Rascism is alive & well & it's flourishing here in Dubai!

While we are on silly things in Dubai did anyone see the gulf news a couple of days ago.
It stated the police chief wants to lower the driving age from 18 to 16 for Emiraties only.
Aparently he thinks it will add to road safety.
After I got off my kitchen floor laughing I realized this place is going down hill so fast.
Yes kids of 16 drive in other parts of the world but not in ferraris and with alah as their co pilot.
God help us all on the roads.

GMDS.. great analysis and insight. Thanks

Hi, I am just wondering what this has to do with etihad and emirates pilots.
International pilot jobs around the world are always subject to the insecruties from that medieval dictatorship of a country. Yet those that can complain the most can go...
Don't you just love that, when someone says that line. We are only here for the money, tax free. Just because they pay us lots of cash, it still gives us a right to complain.
Anyway to start a complete mis direction of topic, anyway see the news last week about lowering the age for the driving licence for nationals down to 16.
That will really put an end to the kids stacking their families landcruizer round the roundabout.

fluffy

Dubai is what it is ,all you need to do is remember that you are a guest.and if you dont like it then just leave.its very simple you will find the same idiots in any company with the same personality but diff face.Dubai has lost its charm which did exist in the 80 90s and yes its full of aerogant people who really had nothing but now play golf and drive nice cars.but everyone knows this
So very true...and this goes for anywhere else in the middle east...like it or leave.
A simple concept to understand.:}

Very much the truth, to the concern of many parents as other parts of the curriculum suffer. :eek:

Kid at a well known "English Speaking School".

I think this (http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2009/October/theuae_October712.xml&section=theuae&col=) will concern parents a bit more - apparently there is a 'vision' to nationalize all private schools.

If they tried this the place would collapse from the amount of people leaving.

Nathan Mayer Rothschild (1777-1836) once said:
"I care not what puppet is placed upon the throne of England to rule the Empire on which the sun never sets. The man who controls Britain's money supply controls the British Empire, and I control the British money supply."

It is easy to figure out who controls the purse and why the country is becoming more islamic.

It is easy to figure out who controls the purse and why the country is becoming more islamic.

Who would that be then?

If anything Abu Dhabi is becoming more liberal than previously. So why would they try to shut Dubai down? Though I can think of several answers to that question.

Maybe you mean Saudi?

its full of aerogant people who really had nothing but now play golf and drive nice cars.but everyone knows this

Ha, sounds like Hong Kong :}