Latest news with #Adek
The National
4 days ago
- Business
- The National
Abu Dhabi bars 12 schools from enrolling new pupils in grade inflation clampdown
The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge on Tuesday announced a review to target grade inflation and inconsistencies in academic records at private schools in the emirate. Under phase one, 12 schools have been temporarily barred from enrolling pupils in Grades 11 and 12 until compliance issues are resolved and corrective actions are in place. Adek said schools are required to submit Grade 12 academic records for immediate review. These include high school transcripts for all graduates, assessment policies and grading frameworks, graduation requirement documentation, samples of marked assessments and a full record of all types of pupil assessment. The drive aims to ensure each graduate earns their credentials through genuine academic achievement, and prevent unfair practices that result in unreliable outcomes or inflated school rankings. 'Grade inflation not only misrepresents student learning, undermines trust in the education system and limits fair academic competition,' a statement issued on behalf of Adek reads. 'That's why this review aims to identify patterns of grade inflation, inconsistencies in awarding credits, and gaps between reported grades and actual performance and learning quality.' What next? The next phases of the review will extend to a broader range of age groups, including Grades 9-11, and involve an analysis of internal grades compared to those achieved in external exams. Schools falling short of the required standards may face administrative escalation or be subject to mandatory corrective measures under Adek policy. The process is about reinforcing parents' confidence in the quality of education their children receive, the statement adds.
Khaleej Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Holidays in UAE: Your guide to summer camps for children across Abu Dhabi
From AI and entrepreneurship to art and athletics, Abu Dhabi's new summer camp season during the long break offers something for every student. The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek) has launched its most comprehensive summer camp programme yet, offering more than 60 camps across Abu Dhabi from July 1 to August 29. Building on the success of previous editions and incorporating parent feedback, the School Break Camps span Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra, delivering hands-on, project-based learning across diverse interests while maintaining dedicated programs for Students of Determination. "We believe that learning never stops," said Dr Bashaer Al Matrooshi, Executive Director of Adek's Talent Enablement Sector. "Adek's School Break Camps reflect our deep commitment to nurturing students' growth in every sense – physical, emotional, and intellectual. Through project-based learning, our summer camps not only keep students meaningfully engaged during the break but also help cultivate a love for learning that lasts a lifetime." The programme features expanded partnerships with leading universities and organisations. Creative offerings include Culinary Arts by ICCA, Art Explorers by Brainy n Bright in collaboration with Kenaz, Transformative Journalism by Storm, and Arabic Heroes by Beit Arabi Center. Sports enthusiasts can choose from specialised camps, including a five-day Multi Sports Camp by Haraka Fitness offering touch rugby, tennis, netball, cricket, badminton, and dodgeball, alongside the Football Camp by Pass Academy and Wrestling Camp by the UAE Wrestling Federation. A standout addition this year focuses on future-readiness skills, with new camps including Young Business Leaders by Storm, Financial Literacy by Zoud, and Future Careers by Pole Position in collaboration with Hashtat, directly addressing 21st-century skill development. High school students benefit from advanced AI and technology training through university partnerships. These include Build What's Next Camp by Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Ektashef Camp by Khalifa University, Future Tech Explorers Camp by Abu Dhabi University, and Energy & AI Bootcamp by IIT Delhi – Abu Dhabi. UAE University in Al Ain offers specialised programs, including Innovate in 3D: Design for Impact, Data Science & Visualisation, and Prompt Engineering camps. Meanwhile, 42 Abu Dhabi provides intensive peer-to-peer boot camps, covering AI Summer Camp, Discovery Piscine - Python, and Generative AI & Prompt Engineering. Parents can browse from 33 additional camps delivered by industry leaders, with registration fees applying throughout the program period. Parents can find more details on the different camps and registration on the Adek website.
Khaleej Times
10-06-2025
- General
- Khaleej Times
'A positive step': School principals, parents hail new Abu Dhabi policy of teaching Arabic in nurseries
From recruiting Emirati teachers to lead Arabic teaching sessions to incorporating interactive storytelling and fun learning activities, schools are preparing to support a new policy that mandates all private schools to teach Arabic in their kindergartens and nurseries. Announced on Monday by Abu Dhabi's Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek), the new policy mandates that kindergartens in private and educational partnership schools allocate 240 minutes (four hours) per week for Arabic instruction. It applies to all early childhood education levels, from nursery (pre-KG) to second kindergarten (KG2). The weekly Arabic instruction time is set to increase to 300 minutes (five hours) starting in the 2026–2027 academic year. While schools say they have already begun preparing and training staff to meet this requirement, parents believe the measure will help children develop Arabic communication skills from an early age. Several school principals reported that they had already introduced Arabic phonics and letter recognition in kindergarten in previous years, anticipating the challenges students often face when encountering Arabic for the first time in Grade 1. Others praised the initiative as a positive step towards multilingual development, aligning with the UAE's cultural identity. According to Adek, the policy aims to ensure that every child, whether a native Arabic speaker or a beginner in learning the language, receives consistent, high-quality instruction during this critical stage of language development. Despite the challenges schools may face in teaching non-native speakers, several have already planned to implement the policy in the upcoming academic year. Schools welcome the initiative K George Mathew, Principal/CEO, GEMS United Indian School – Abu Dhabi, welcomed the decision, praising its role in enhancing multilingual education and cultural appreciation among young learners. 'As an Indian curriculum institution with a strong trilingual education policy (Hindi/ Malayalam, English, French), we warmly welcome the decision to introduce Arabic in kindergarten,' he said. Mathew emphasised that early language exposure promotes cognitive flexibility, cultural understanding, and social development. 'To ensure a seamless and engaging integration of Arabic, we propose a learning-by-play approach, using interactive storytelling, songs, movement activities, and immersive play. These methods align perfectly with the developmental needs of kindergarten students, creating a fun and natural learning experience.' 'Our faculty members look forward to designing Arabic learning modules that complement our existing curriculum, turning language learning into an adventure rather than an academic task. We are committed to working closely with educational authorities to implement best practices and ensure children build a solid foundation in Arabic that sparks curiosity and enthusiasm,' he added. Parents support early Arabic education Parents have also expressed enthusiasm and a willingness to support their children's Arabic learning at a young age. Among them is Rawda Musabah who said the decision is important and that Arabic should be the foundation at the start of a child's education, noting that English can be learned more easily later. 'Today, we see a focus on English, which makes children always speak it and prefer it over Arabic,' she said. She added, 'It's okay, and there won't be any difficulties if it's during school hours. However, if it's added as extra time, it could be tiring for students, as their day is already long.' Fatima Abdullah, an Emirati parent, described the decision as a good one that would strengthen children's command of the Arabic language and teach them proper usage from the start. 'Our children need to learn Arabic from a young age. If they don't learn it now, it will be difficult to learn it when they grow up,' she said. She added that teaching Arabic to non-native speakers is just as important, given that they are living in an Arab country. 'I will transfer my son, who is currently in preschool, to a different school next academic year because I want him to learn Arabic intensively. In his current school, he studies Arabic only twice a week, which is not enough. Therefore, I will move him to another school where he will learn Arabic daily,' she shared.
Khaleej Times
09-06-2025
- General
- Khaleej Times
Abu Dhabi mandates 4 hours of weekly Arabic lessons for KG students in private schools
Abu Dhabi's education authority on Monday announced a new policy requiring kindergartens in private and educational partnership schools to allocate 240 minutes (four hours) per week for Arabic language instruction. This directive will start from the first semester of the 2025–2026 academic year, the Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek) confirmed. The directive applies to all early childhood education levels — from pre-kindergarten (first foundation stage) to second kindergarten (first year). The weekly Arabic instruction time will further increase to 300 minutes (five hours) starting in the 2026–2027 school year. According to Adek, the initiative aims to strengthen Arabic language skills among young learners while fostering cultural identity and a sense of belonging from the earliest years of education. The move is part of broader efforts to enhance language acquisition and preserve national heritage through early and consistent exposure to Arabic during formative learning stages.
Khaleej Times
17-03-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Abu Dhabi: 15 new private nurseries to add 1,250 seats after getting licences; full list with fees
Fifteen private nurseries were given licences by Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek), providing residents with more options to nurture their children's early development and potential. The new educational facilities will add 1,250 seats across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra, the authority said on Monday. Here's a full list of the nurseries which got the licences: British Orchard Nursery in Al Nahyan - Abu Dhabi, with an average fee of Dh17,750 Apple Field Nursery, Al Manhal- Abu Dhabi, with average fees amounting to Dh24,000 British Home Nursery, Al Bahyah - Abu Dhabi, with average fees totaling Dh24,000 Little Hand Nursery, Al Aamerah - Al Ain, with average fees of Dh24,000 Learning Tree Nursery, Madinat Al Riyad - Abu Dhabi, with average fees at Dh25,000 Little Genius Nursery, Zayed City - Al Dhafra, with average fees of Dh25,900 Little Smarties Nursery, Khalifa City - Abu Dhabi, with average fees amounting to Dh26,000; Maple Tree International Nurseries, Reem Island - Abu Dhabi, with average fees totaling Dh26,550; Kids Fantasy Nursery, Mohamed bin Zayed City - Abu Dhabi, with average fees of Dh27,000 and Small Stars Nursery, Madinat Al Riyad - Abu Dhabi, with average fees of Dh30,000. Thinkers Planet Nurseries, Bani Yas - Abu Dhabi, with an average fee totaling Dh32,000; Tiny Dreams Nursery, Al Nahyan - Abu Dhabi, with an average fee amounting to Dh36,000; Jack and Jill Nursery, Al Raha - Abu Dhabi, with average fees being Dh45,000 and Redwood Nurseries in Al Kasir - Abu Dhabi with average fees at Dh51,375 Redwood Nurseries in Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi with average fees at Dh51,375 ADEK carefully assessed multiple factors before granting approval to ensure these fees are reasonable and transparent. These include operational costs such as rent, staffing expenses to maintain appropriate child-to-teacher ratios and investments in educational materials and safety measures. Fees are also evaluated based on market trends and the sustainability of services. "By taking these factors into account, parents can be assured that nursery fees are structured to support a safe, engaging and developmentally enriching start for their children," Adek said in a statement. A total of 225 private nurseries with 27,791 seats provide nurturing environments that support children's cognitive, social, and emotional development during their formative years - critical for their future academic success and personal growth. On Friday, Abu Dhabi said it is designing an assessment system for services offered to young children, other than nurseries and schools. The assessment system will employ a set of criteria, based on global leading practices but customised to the UAE's culture, values and context.
