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ADEC to roll out New School Model to Cycle 2 schools next academic year

ABU DHABI – Rolling out the New School Model (NSM) across Cycle 2 schools in the next academic school year marks a transformational development in the educational system in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, said Dr. Mugheer Al Khaili, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) during a meeting held to announce the model.

During a meeting organized by ADEC for 265 public school principals from Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region, Dr. Al Khaili said: “The successful NSM implementation in Kindergarten and Cycle 1 schools over the past few years will help enhance the effectiveness of Cycle 2 programs and activities.”

The meeting, held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company (ADNEC) today, highlighted new programs and changes introduced to the curriculum upon the NSM rollout in Cycle 2 schools at the beginning of the upcoming school year 2013/2014.

During the meeting, a presentation was delivered by Dr. Karima Al Mazroui, ADEC’s Curriculum Division Manager, to shed light on several issues related to the NSM.

“The middle grades (Cycle 2) are a time of transition for students academically and developmentally. Thus, it is of a paramount importance to identify teachers that are qualified to teach these students in line with NSM standards and in order to increase educational attainment by providing appropriate education for all to improve Cycle 3 performance,” said Dr. Al Mazroui.

She added: “Parents often become less involved as their children get older, especially when they transition to middle school, that is why we call out on parents to play a more active role in the teaching and learning of their children at home.”

Dr. Al Mazroui discussed the NSM rollout plan in C2 schools and the assessment of teacher readiness to teach in English using IELTS and the Cambridge Assessment, an online English placement test covering general English, which tests skills such as Reading/Use of English and Listening. Teacher Performance Appraisal for the past year is also used.

“An indicator that students are now ready to learn in English is that Grade 6 learners have been studying the NSM curriculum for three years. Another indicator is students high scores in EMSA, which is testing their abilities in English, Math and Science,” she added.

The scores of Cambridge Assessment for measuring teachers’ readiness to teach in English per gender and nationality were presented by Dr. Al Mazroui.

In Cycle 2 schools, each of the basic subjects, Arabic Language, English, Mathematics and Science, will be taught for six periods a week, each period will continue for 45 minutes. The instructional time of Islamic Studies, Physical Education and Arts, will remain the same i.e. four periods per week. In addition, health will be integrated with physical education to be offered in Health and Physical Education period.

“A new subject under the name “Integrated Social Studies” will be introduced. Content will be derived from History, Geography, Social Studies, National Education, Economics, Psychology, Sociology and Career Guidance. Three periods per week will be delivered,” said Dr. Al Mazroui.

One period of Music per week will be introduced to Grades 7, 8 and 9 and the use of ICT as a learning tool will be integrated across all subjects.

“The period dedicated to ICT in Cycle 2 schools will be cut. Current ICT teachers will transition to the role of e-Learning facilitator which will not be taught as a separate course. It will support all subject teachers to integrate e-Learning techniques and tools into their course content and pedagogical methods,” she concluded.