Combating coronavirus: Schools across UAE welcome distance learning evaluation

This unified approach will benefit schools, parents and students by providing feedback to all educational institutions.

Principals and educationists across the UAE have welcomed the distance learning evaluation (DLE) that is set to begin by mid-May for all UAE public and private schools.
The DLE has been developed to create shared expectations of distance learning that has been going on in full swing amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
This unified approach will benefit schools, parents and students by providing feedback to all educational institutions in order to help them improve the key aspects of distance learning.
Nargish Khambatta, principal and CEO of GEMS Modern Academy, said: "I suppose the reason for the evaluation by the authorities is two-fold - quality assurances to gauge how effectively schools are delivering their distance learning plans, and to glean best practice from across the emirates."
Teams from the Ministry of Education, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge and the Sharjah Private Education Authority interviewed principals and teachers across the UAE to discuss the implementation of distance learning and gain an understanding of how it can be improved.
The evaluation criteria and processes were developed and piloted in a number of public and private schools earlier. Insights gained during these pilot evaluations were also used for formulating yardsticks.
School officials said the evaluation matrix is clear and well explained with three zones, 13 themes and 39 descriptors - each being evaluated as developed, partially developed or not developed.
"A five-hour evaluation, including stakeholder questionnaires, virtual discussions, virtual visits and scrutiny of student work samples, seems pretty straightforward," Khambatta said.
Recognising teachers' efforts
Sangita Chima, principal of Amity School Dubai, pointed out that the process will reassure parents and also recognise the efforts put in by the teachers in the community.
"The DLE will set a benchmark for all UAE schools, and ensure that students are benefiting from distance learning," Chima said.
Alan Williamson, CEO, Taaleem, said: "As a close partner with the regulators, we have already been engaged with KHDA and ADEK and our schools have experienced a very supportive approach from the evaluation teams. Taaleem believes that distance learning has to be of the highest quality."
Zubair Ahmad, head of HR and Administration, Springdales School Dubai, underlined that DLE is reinforcing "progress and attainment" outcomes in e-learning.
"The DLE will be evaluating all the documentation done by the schools earlier, by practically reviewing it themselves. They would see if everything is aligned as per prior assessments shared by the schools," he said.
The distance learning programme that began in March this year will be extended until the summer break.
How will schools be assessed?
- Evaluations will be conducted remotely, for about five hours
- Online meetings with principal, senior leadership team to be conducted
- Lessons will be observed, virtually
- The evaluation matrix has three zones, 13 themes and 39 descriptors, each being evaluated as developed, partially developed or not developed
- Students' learning and well-being during the e-programme will be assessed

nandini@khaleejtimes.com