UK minister reaffirms commitment to education and training in UAE

John Hayes MP, UK Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, visited Dubai on Wednesday to reaffirm his country’s commitment to education and training standards in the UAE.

Hayes visited the Dubai Police Academy which hosted an event that recognised the importance of vocational training in the UAE and celebrated five years of close working relations with leading UK vocational education organisation City & Guilds at the academy’s training facility in Dubai.

The team, with also included Maj-Gen Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, was given a tour of the showcase which featured classes in conflict management, CCTV handling, search and security training, first aid, culinary training from the International Centre for Culinary Arts (ICCA) and a leadership development course through ILM at Dubai Aluminium. All programmes have been developed with City & Guilds Group.

Hayes said: “I was delighted to witness such an impressive demonstration of vocational and professional skills learning at the Dubai Police Academy today, including City and Guilds’ culinary training programme and management training. UK institutions are playing an important role in developing such expertise in the UAE. There’s much scope to do more.”

The Dubai Police and City & Guilds’ private security training has already produced over 24,600 qualified personnel, thus helping move towards the UAE’s vision of a ‘Safe Society’. Maj-Gen Al Mazeina said: “The academy has now established itself as a ‘centre of excellence’ in the Middle East and is providing security training to police forces throughout the MENA, with support from City & Guilds and collaboration with New Scotland Yard, London.”

British curriculum schools to undergo UK dept inspections

British schools in Dubai will undergo the British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspections starting next year, as the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) announced an agreement with the Department for Education of England (DfE).

To qualify for BSO inspections, schools must be able to demonstrate that their curriculum and ethos are related to the British culture. If they meet the standards, they will be recognised by the DfE. The inspections will be conducted in cooperation with the CfBT Education Trust as it will enable parents, the school and other stakeholders to see how the school measures up against the standards that apply to independent schools in the UK, taking into account local requirements.

The KHDA and the CfBT will offer BSO inspections to Dubai’s 54 British curriculum-based schools in conjunction with the inspections conducted annually by the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau. To be classified as ‘British’ by the KHDA, schools will need to undergo BSO inspections.

Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Director-General of the KHDA, said: “This agreement is a very significant step in reaching our goal of ensuring high-quality education for all private school students in Dubai. We look forward to the positive impact it will have on Dubai’s education system.”

Nick Gibb, Minister of State for Schools at the DfE, said: “As part of the Dubai government, the KHDA is committed to high standards in all its schools. We are pleased that it has adopted an approach which improves the inspection process for British Overseas Schools in Dubai. These inspections will deliver high-quality reports for both the KHDA and the DfE.”

muaz@khaleejtimes.com