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Govt schools’ principals opt to retire than risk exposing weak English language

DUBAI — The Ministry of Education (MoE) yesterday surprised the UAE education zones with a decision in which it demanded them to list the names of the principals of government schools in the country who needed to undergo compulsory English assessment tests, apart from teachers of English for Grades X, XI, and XII.

The MoE asked the education zones to hand over the list of the principals’ names by next Sunday at the end of the official working hours.

This decision was rejected by many principals who did not agree to be tested.

They pointed out that it is better for them to retire than be tested, since this assessment test would reveal their shortcomings in English.

It is believed that a large number of school principals, though they have spent several years on their job, did not try to improve their skills and performance in the English language.

As such, the MoE explained that they could not keep abreast with the desire of the nation’s leaders to achieve all-round progress and development.

Consequently, a number of school principals said that they have declared their voluntary retirement, despite having served 30 long years in the profession.

Meanwhile, the MoE studies the procedures needed for the second semester exam of the general secondary school.

• UAE