NEWS
GEMS INDIAN CURRICULUM SCHOOLS OFFER 'GOOD' OR BETTER EDUCATION
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n Dubai 35 schools offer the Indian curriculum and of the 31 reviewed during the 2018-2019 inspection cycle, only GEMS Modern Academy achieved an 'outstanding' rating, and all GEMS Education students studying the Indian curriculum attend a school that is ranked 'good' or better. According to the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) findings, there was a marked improvement in the ratings with 73% of students attending Indian curriculum schools receiving an overall ‘good’ or better rating. This number is up from 69% last year, and 45% in 2009. In this cycle, 21 schools were rated ‘good’ or better compared to 18 schools last year, with three schools improving their rating
BOYS’ SCHOOL RELOCATES TO STATEOF-THE-ART CAMPUS
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ur Own English High School Sharjah, Boys is set to migrate to a new campus in Al Juwaizah, currently the home of GEMS New Our Own Private High School, Sharjah. Set to be completed by April 2019, the
between 2017-18 and 2018-19, two improved from acceptable to good, and one improved from weak to acceptable. A key area for development for most schools offering the Indian curriculum is teaching Arabic as a second language.
new campus boasts larger classrooms, superior games facilities and outdoor play areas, as well as a highquality multi-purpose hall, canteen, dining space, library, laboratories, prayer rooms, conference facilities, and other features. It is an impressive, purpose-built campus with more than 3,000 square metres of additional space to improve the learning experience of all students. GEMS Education has taken a number of steps to ensure a seamless transition, including offering students school bus services as per existing arrangements and providing full assistance to families who do not wish to relocate or for whom the merger is disagreeable. Following the move, the faculty of the combined school will be made up of teachers from both Our Own English High School Sharjah, Boys and GEMS New Our Own Private High School, Sharjah. GEMS Education has optimised the use of all available space at the new campus, allowing for ample provision to meet the highest standards of educational needs for all students.
STUDENTS GIVEN 1.5 DAYS OFF TO DEVELOP TALENT UNDER NEW PROGRAMME
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(Credit: Shutterstock/Nestor Rizhniak)
rade 11 and 12 students will get a day and a half each week to work on their main talents and skills and catch up on academics, instead of attending classes. The initiative called ‘3.5+1.5=6’ will involve 1,500 students and is part of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority’s (KHDA) Rahhal project. This is another phase of Rahhal, which allows students to study remotely while pursuing sporting or artistic endeavours. “We’re giving a full flexibility to students in Grades 11 and 12. I think this will create a scale for all schools in Dubai and it could even become a global model,” said Dr. Abdullah Al Karam, the chairman of the KHDA. Private schools in Dubai can seek approval from KHDA to allow their 11th and 12th Grade students to have an entire day and half each week to skip classes and work on talents they want to develop.
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ISSUE 3 | MARCH 2019
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