AIMING HIGH IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES ( UAE ) INTRODUCING THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION ’ S NEW CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK FOR EXCELLENCE
BY : RUSSELL GRIGG AND BRIAN CURRIE
His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan , Founder of the UAE , once famously said , ‘ the real asset of any advanced nation is its people , especially the educated ones , and the prosperity and success of the people are measured by the standard of their education ’. The UAE government continues to hold high aspirations for its young people and is committed to building a world-class educational system . The Ministry of Education ’ s new Curriculum Framework for Excellence ( CFE ) is part of this commitment and aligns with the UAE ’ s Centennial 2071 pillar of excellence in education . This article provides an overview of the thinking behind the CFE .
The CFE is aimed primarily at public schools and represents an overarching framework offering strategic direction , structure and cohesion to various subject and cycle-level curriculum programmes and cross-curricular frameworks . It builds on existing strengths , for example the UAE ’ s clear commitment to innovation , investment in education technologies , respect for diversity and the non-linear learning paths that accommodate the different needs of students . The willingness of teachers , administrators , students and parents to adapt and show resilience are further strengths , evidenced most recently through the remarkably smooth transference to online learning and teaching during the Covid pandemic .
However , there remains a strong case for continuing to develop and improve the educational provision and learning outcomes . Students are living in a new industrial age of increasing automation , social media and artificial intelligence . Hence , they need the technical skills , alongside social and emotional intelligence , to make responsible use of smart technologies and to communicate effectively in an interconnected world . Students also need to be taught how to think critically and creatively about issues in making thoughtful and considerate decisions . This means drawing on Emirati values and ethics to build a cohesive , tolerant and sustainable society . Hence , the CFE includes a strong focus on strengthening students ’ well-being so
38 Term 1 Sep - Dec 2021
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