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Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge

Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge

Abu Dhabi Department of Education
Abu Dhabi creates 1,250 new nursery places after approving 15 licences
Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge
Taaleem said it holds exclusive rights to own and operate Harrow International Schools across the GCC and expects to announce another one in the UAE later this year Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi will offer training support to give new teachers education qualifications Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge
Abu Dhabi raises education standards with hundreds of pre-kindergarten places at good schools in the emirate Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge
Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) releases first phase of evaluations covered 87 of the emirate's private schools Abu Dhabi
The hike comes after a three-year freeze on tuition fees to support UAE parents during the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery period Abu Dhabi
The program, called Khotwa, will allow grantees to study for two years at community colleges in the US and Canada Abu Dhabi
The new directive will benefit more than 7,600 citizens in the Abu Dhabi public school system by raising their pensions to 80 percent of their total salary. Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge
The UAE teams will compete against teams from over 85 countries across four categories – RoboMission, Future Innovators, Future Engineers and RoboSports Abu Dhabi
Students in grades 1-12 will be required to wear face masks. Unvaccinated students aged 16 and older must provide a PCR test result every seven days. Vaccinated teachers, staff, and students must undergo a PCR test every 14 days to enter schools Abu Dhabi Charter Schools
Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge gives update for post-pandemic learning for private and charter school students Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge
Initiative offers private and charter schools in Abu Dhabi a clear roadmap to normalcy after coronavirus disruption 42 Abu Dhabi
42 Abu Dhabi is the first GCC campus of Paris-based 42 Network of coding schools and has been opened in partnership with Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) under the Ghadan 21 accelerator programme Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge
Students aged 16 and above must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to be allowed entry to schools Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi General Services Company says it has started work on six new schools in the emirate Abu Dhabi Charter Schools
Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge selects Aldar Education, Bloom Education and Taaleem to run new 'sustainable education model' Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge
The UAE is projected to require 81,500 seats in the Pre-K segment by 2020
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Explained: 'Grade inflation' that prompted ban on new admissions at some UAE schools
Explained: 'Grade inflation' that prompted ban on new admissions at some UAE schools

Khaleej Times

timea day ago

  • Khaleej Times

Explained: 'Grade inflation' that prompted ban on new admissions at some UAE schools

As concerns around inflated grading gains traction across certain schools in the UAE's private education sector, many other institutions are also stepping up efforts to safeguard academic integrity. Most recently, Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) temporarily barred 12 private schools in the Capital from enrolling students in Grades 11 and 12 due to grade inflation. With education regulators intensifying their oversight of academic records, schools in the country are not just reacting to compliance requirements — they are proactively implementing quality assurance and fairness in their assessment practices. In an interview with Khaleej Times, school leaders explained how they are aligning predicted grades with actual student outcomes in external assessments such as NGRT (New Group Reading Test), Progress Tests, and international benchmark exams. These comparisons help ensure accountability, sharpen teaching practices, and align internal evaluations with global standards. Understanding grade inflation Grade inflation refers to the trend of rising student grades over time without a corresponding increase in academic achievement. When students receive higher marks without demonstrating deeper learning, those grades become inflated. This shift undermines the reliability of grades as a true measure of academic performance, making it harder for stakeholders — such as parents, educators, and college admissions officers — to accurately assess student capabilities, allocate resources effectively, or hold students accountable. But even as fresh discussions around this emerge in the country, concerns about the credibility of course grades are not new. In fact, grade inflation has been appearing to be accelerating, even among elite institutions like the Ivy League. For instance, The Daily Princetonian reported that 'The average GPA (at Princeton University) for the 2022–2023 academic year was 3.56 out of 4.00, an increase from the 2018–2019 average of 3.46.' While notable, this increase is still lower than Harvard's average GPA of 3.80 in 2020–21 academic year and Yale's 3.70 in 2022–23. A similar pattern has been unfolding in the UK. Both Oxford and Cambridge have seen a growing number of students earning first-class degrees over the past decade. However, Oxford's rate of inflation has remained lower compared to other institutions. Ensuring consistency Lyudmyla Klykova, Founding Principal at Hampton Heights International School under the Woodlem Education group, highlighted how their commitment to compliance is embedded in their assessment culture. 'We place deep importance on compliance and transparency to meet rigorous assessment standards. As part of our education group, we engage in cross-campus audits where assessment policies, marking schemes, and sample student work are reviewed collaboratively to ensure consistency and adherence to external benchmarks.' The school has implemented a multi-layered internal system to detect discrepancies and support staff in maintaining grading integrity. 'Our internal quality assurance system rigorously tracks discrepancies between predicted grades and actual student performance on standardised or external exams such as NGRT, Progress Tests, and Cambridge Checkpoint assessments. Data from internal assessments and predicted grades is systematically compared against external results each term. Any significant gaps trigger a detailed analysis led by the Senior Leadership Team and Heads of Department.' These efforts are reinforced with professional development initiatives. 'Teachers participate in internal training sessions focused on aligning assessments with the British Curriculum and Cambridge International standards. These sessions include moderation workshops where teachers collaboratively review student work to establish consistent marking practices and grading standards. Additionally, our senior staff lead workshops on developing high-quality assessments and using detailed rubrics to ensure transparency and fairness.' To further align with international best practices, the school encourages staff to attend training organised by reputed boards. 'Many also participate in Cambridge examiner training to gain insights into external assessment expectations. Through this combination of internal and external training, our teachers build shared understanding, maintain high standards, and ensure that assessment practices are both rigorous and fair.' Such data-driven approaches not only enhance accountability but also support school improvement efforts. 'Moderation sessions and data review meetings help refine prediction accuracy and maintain accountability. Patterns identified across subjects or year groups inform broader school improvement plans.' Global alignment in assessment standards For Global Indian International School (GIIS) Dubai, alignment across the group's 64 schools in 11 countries plays a central role in preventing grade inflation. Anita Singh, Principal of GIIS Dubai, said, 'To ensure fair practices and prevent grade inflation, we review the worksheets or revision work given to students. The format/blueprint is discussed with students to improve their understanding and how they should answer it. Webinar is conducted for parents before assessments for their understanding.' She explained how the school's group-wide coordination contributes to maintaining consistency. 'GIIS Dubai is part of the Global Schools Group, Singapore, with more than 64 schools across 11 countries. We take education very seriously. To ensure compliance and transparency, we follow the practice of setting a common paper for all GIIS schools across different countries. The common paper set by one school is reviewed, revised as per expected standards and shared before the assessments. This is done in senior school and now we are implementing it in primary and middle school too. This helps raise standards and ensures no grade inflation.' The school also uses assessment data to pinpoint skill gaps and take corrective measures. 'Data analysis is done for internal assessments and targets are set phase wise and grade wise based on students' performance. Data triangulation is done with external benchmarks to identify learning gaps for skills and competences. If the actuals are not at par with the predicted scores, a data review meeting is held with the subject head and SLT to brainstorm and draw strategies for the red flags and bridge the gaps.' Progress is closely monitored through monthly reviews. 'The Academic Head holds monthly campus review meetings to discuss the progress which is tracked to ensure the actions taken bring positive results.'

India's June gold imports fall to two-year low as record price dents demand
India's June gold imports fall to two-year low as record price dents demand

Zawya

timea day ago

  • Zawya

India's June gold imports fall to two-year low as record price dents demand

India's gold imports in June fell 40% from a year ago to their lowest level in more than two years, as a price rally to a record high sapped demand, a government and two industry officials told Reuters. Imports to India, the world's second-largest gold consumer, fell to 21 tons, the lowest since April 2023, said a government official, who declined to be named as he was not authorised to talk to the media. In value terms, gold imports fell to $1.84 billion in June from $2.48 billion a year ago, the official said. In the past decade, on average, India imported 52.4 tons of gold in June. In the first half of 2025, India's gold imports fell 30% from a year ago to 204.1 tons, the lowest since the first half of 2020, when the COVID-19 outbreak led to lockdown, the trade ministry data showed. The rapid surge in prices has been discouraging retail buyers from making jewellery purchases, said Ashok Jain, proprietor of Mumbai-based gold wholesaler Chenaji Narsinghji. Domestic prices hit an all-time high of 101,078 rupees per 10 grams in June. Gold prices have risen 27% so far this year after rising 21% in 2024. Gold imports would remain subdued even in July, as demand is still tepid because of higher prices, Jain said. Silver imports in June nearly doubled from a year ago to 197 tons, but were significantly lower than the 544 tons imported in May, the government official said. In recent months, Indian investors, traditionally obsessed with stockpiling gold, are increasingly turning to silver , as its returns this year outpaced those of gold. (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav Editing by Ros Russell)

Hikma, IFC sign $250mn deal, marking a 40-year partnership driving access to quality medicines in the MENA region
Hikma, IFC sign $250mn deal, marking a 40-year partnership driving access to quality medicines in the MENA region

Web Release

timea day ago

  • Web Release

Hikma, IFC sign $250mn deal, marking a 40-year partnership driving access to quality medicines in the MENA region

Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC (Hikma), a multinational pharmaceutical company, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, have signed a $250 million six-year financing agreement focused on expanding access to medicines to support Hikma's operations across the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA), by strengthening local medicine production. This financing builds on IFC's anchor role in Hikma's $500 million, five-year bond issuance, which included a $50 million subscription from IFC. The latest investments mark another milestone in a 40-year partnership and reaffirm IFC's commitment to supporting Hikma's mission of providing high-quality, affordable medicines across key MENA markets. Over four decades, IFC has offered Hikma financing and advisory tailored to the company's growth trajectory and helping reinforce its operational resilience. In 2017, IFC extended a loan to facilitate Hikma's regional expansion and later, in 2020, provided a financing package that enabled the uninterrupted distribution of medicines across the MENA region during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'Our longstanding partnership with IFC has supported our expansion into new markets over the past four decades, most recently through the strategic $250 million loan and contribution to our $500 million bond issuance. This has allowed us to respond effectively to critical healthcare needs in the regional markets we serve.' said Mazen Darwazah, Hikma's Executive Vice Chairman and President of MENA. 'Our partnership transcends monetary transactions and reflects our long-term alignment and shared values on corporate governance and sustainability. Together, we have grown strategically while staying focused on what matters most; supporting our patients by addressing high unmet healthcare needs across the region.' Hikma operates in over 50 countries across MENA, North America, and Europe, reporting revenues of over $3 billion in 2024. The company's growth has been driven by investments in local manufacturing and a series of strategic acquisitions and partnerships with multinational companies aimed at expanding access to high-quality medicines. Hikma has been listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2005 and was recognised in the FTSE4Good Index for ten consecutive years for its sustainability performance. In 2012, IFC honoured Hikma with its Client Leadership Award in recognition of its achievements in sustainability and corporate governance. Khawaja Aftab Ahmed, IFC's Regional Director for the Middle East, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, added: 'IFC's 40-year partnership with Hikma continues to demonstrate what's possible when global development institutions and private sector leaders collaborate. Together, we've expanded access to high-quality medicines across emerging markets, enabling the company to grow into new territories and deliver critical medicine when it was needed most, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our recent engagements build on that strong foundation and open the door for even greater impact by supporting local medicine production and continued regional growth, despite ongoing conflict and uncertainty.' The 40-year anniversary of our partnership was celebrated at Hikma's Amman headquarters on 14 July, with senior leaders and partners in attendance to honour their shared commitment to building stronger, more resilient health systems across the MENA region and beyond.

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