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We need more expat students in government schools

Arguably, such an approach will have multiple benefits.

A culture is defined by shared beliefs and values. Culture provides a framework for moral behaviour which is why it is often said that blending with people of other cultures makes one more tolerant, empathetic and cultured.
In fact, mixing with people of different backgrounds from a young age is also known to have a positive impact on cognitive abilities of the individual. When children are exposed to different practices, eating habits and behaviour, it makes them more accepting of differences, and instils the spirit of cooperation and competition. Universities of repute in the West often ensure a healthy mix of different nationalities for this reason.
I, therefore, wonder if we can bring such best practices to our educational institutions, specifically to our government schools. The UAE is a melting pot of cultures anyway, and it should not be a hard task if the standards of government schools are improved, and more expatriate students are allowed to study there.
At present, only 20 per cent of the total student strength is expatriate. Each classroom, in turn, cannot have more than a fifth of expatriate students. I think this ratio has to be raised to about 50 per cent to ensure a healthy mix.
Arguably, such an approach will have multiple benefits.
Let me offer some anecdotal evidence for this. I studied at a government school along with several expatriate students. They mostly occupied the front rows, assiduously took down notes and made the best of the learning experience while maintaining distance from mischievous peers like us.
They had a different way of studying, a different approach to life and we were eager to challenge them. Emirati children and expatriate children bonded well and yet competed fiercely, which brought out the best among all of us, not just academically but at the personal level, too. Now when I look back, I think it was a wonderful experience.
However, the education system is different today. We have a lot of curricula and often there are differences on how to upgrade them and improve standards.
How can we have a binary approach to education? Books are just means to academic knowledge. There is more to education than books, teachers, exams, curriculum and course material. Schooling is a culture, a commitment to academic and intellectual excellence. A student spends most of his or her day at school and surely learns much more from there than just what is taught.
Therefore, I think we should keep our differences aside and consider making changes to our government schools.
Moreover, many Emirati families prefer sending their children to private schools rather than to government institutions, which brings us back to the second point of discussion - the standards at government schools.
Despite the high tuition fees in private educational institutions, more Emiratis chose them because they think standards at government schools have lowered over the years. I am not sure about the reason for this thinking, but if government schools raise the limit for expatriates in classrooms, the extra revenue generated can be ploughed back into the classrooms to raise standards.
Government schools should accept more expatriate students who will add more value to the system. And we need to make admission tests more competitive, perhaps include interviews too, to ensure we attract the best in talent and capabilities.
We should augment our approach to a competitive culture, which has been emphasised by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Excellence and innovation are a culture that ought to prevail in our society "We are in a country that shoulders the responsibility of being a leader in everything," said Sheikh Mohammed. This requires us to build smart, cultured people who are able to make a difference - men and women armed with a strong will, determination, resolve and self-confidence.
Let's start this change from public schools.
malzarooni@khaleejtimes.com