NATIONAL DAYVox
2015Pop
Perspectives
The Importance of Emirati Students
Maintaining the Mother Tongue Arabic
By Ms Fatma Al Marri
agenda is reflected in the efforts put
forward towards developing the teaching
techniques of the Arabic Language. The
UAE National Agenda which coincides
with the UAE Vision of 2021, is to have
High skills in Arabic language: ‘to ensure
that 90% of Grade 9 students develop
high skills in Arabic language in the UAE
NAP assessment’. One of the ways that
KHDA guarantees teachers who will
deliver the best teaching practices is by
having a ‘Teachers assessment center’,
where teachers go through a series of
assessments before being qualified to
teach Arabic and Islamic studies in Dubai
Private Schools.
The linguistic, cultural and racial identity
of students and teachers in Dubai
Private Schools is exceptionally diverse.
Nonetheless, it is important that Emirati
Students maintain their mother tongue. The
Arabic language is the core component of
the ‘National Identity’, building a deeper
connection with the Emirates culture. Thus,
it is a national requirement that the Arabic
Language and culture itself is upheld.
Since the school inspections in 2008,
Arabic as a first and additional language
has been a priority for the Knowledge
Human and Development Authority
(KHDA), seven years later, all private
schools in Dubai are now offering Arabic
as an additional language. Schools are
now working on improving the curriculum
design and teaching strategies based
on specific recommendations from the
Dubai School Inspection Bureau (DSIB).
As a regulatory body, KHDA is responsible
for ensuring that the UAE National
Additionally, Arabic is one of the
recognized United Nations main language,
thus it is crucial that all our students learn
and W6R