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GEMS Education on Wednesday announced that it will be opening a new school - the GEMS Nations Academy - in September 2016.
Located in Al Barsha, Nations Academy that will start with admissions from kindergarten up to eight grade, and is expected to expand into higher-grade levels over time. According to GEMS, teachers and "co-teachers" will be drawn from the top ranks of American educators.
"We're seeing a rising need across the globe for a new learning experience that brings together the latest advances in educational thinking and new technologies," said Dino Varkey, group executive director and board Member of GEMS Education. "With GEMS Nation Academy, we aim to provide that next generation educational environment for students, preparing them with 21st century skills."
The founder of Nations Academy will be Tom Farquhar, who is currently Dean of American Curriculum schools with GEMS Education and has also previously worked with several well-known schools in Washington DC. Speaking to local media, Farquhar said that GEMS core American curriculum will be supplemented by UAE-specific programming.
"The American curriculum gives a greater level of autonomy at the level of school and classroom, for the content of the curriculum to be chosen by the local educational specialist," he said. "There's opportunity for teachers to improvise and to choose areas of study that they're passionate about, and to convey that passion and that inspiration to children." Farquhar also noted that Arabic language courses will be a key focus at Nations Academy.
"I have a deep commitment to doing better with Arabic in the international schools," he said. "Arabic teachers sometimes lag behind their peers in terms of their experience and training in modern teaching pedagogy. but we're going to create a school where Arabic is part of the fabric.
Additionally, Nations Academy will place a strong emphasis on computer programming and other tech-based skills, which Farquhar noted will be the school's "third language" after English and Arabic. "Everyone, from KG1, all the way up to 12th grade, is going to be involved in developing the instruction sets for the machines, which is going to allow them to feel more comfortable in their adult lives, working in this new digital age," he said. GEMS chief academic officer Tony Little told Khaleej Times that while many students today are comfortable with technology, the overwhelming majority of educational institutions leave them with little understanding of how exactly technology functions.
"Fluency is important, but I think what we're talking about here something at a deeper level," he said. "It's not just a question of a young person feeling confident around technology and machinery. It's having a deeper understanding of how the thing works. That's what is completely missing in education at the moment."
"In my experience with technology in schools, there's an awful lot of window dressing. Gizmos. Flashing lights. It looks good, and a parent who's not particularly versed in that world might be impressed," he added. "This isn't about that. It's about young people understanding what technology means and the implications of that."
bernd@khaleejtimes.com
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