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The Foundations of Education Department, part of the College of Education, at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) recently organized a forum entitled, ‘The Teacher is the Foundation of the Development of UAE Education.’ Various governmental bodies and educational institutions, including the Ministry of Education, the Abu Dhabi Education Council, as well as teachers and other educationalists took part in the forum.

Dr. Ali Al Kaabi, Vice Dean of College of Education, introduced the forum and stressed the importance of such events in situating the teacher as an essential part of the educational process. Indeed teaching is the key element in any educational system where professional educators use their pedagogical and scientific knowledge to inculcate values and critical thinking skills as part of any child’s, or young person’s, upbringing.

Dr. Al Kaabi highlighted that such a forum helps teachers to carry out this vital role as part of an overall vision for developing both the education system and the country. Recent studies have shown that the teacher is the key to the development of education and in helping students to achieve their potential and to pursue excellence.

Her Excellency, Khawla Al Mualla, Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Policies at the Ministry of Education, participated in the first session under the title, ‘The Teacher and the UAE’s Vision: Ambitions and Challenges’. Dr. Khaled Al Abri, Manager of Recruitment and Staffing at Abu Dhabi Education Council, also took part in this session which highlighted the national leadership's vision of a comprehensive education system. This session also discussed how to upgrade and develop education while addressing the many challenges along the way. Teachers’ support is, of course, vital to the realization of this vision.

The second seminar discussed research into the status of teachers in the UAE. Dr. Sadiq Midraj, Associate Professor at Zayed University, explored the efficiency of teachers as well as the independent learning and self-evaluation of teachers in the UAE. Meanwhile, Dr. Najwa Al Hosani, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Alumni in the College of Education at UAEU addressed the challenges facing Arabic language teachers.

Dr. Shaikha Al Tunaiji, Head of the Department of Foundations of Education, in the College of Education at UAEU and the main organizer of the forum, discussed the various challenges facing professional development in the new school model, and the need to raise the skill levels of teachers in tandem with developments in both the educational system and the curriculum. Dr. Ghadah Al Murshidi, Associate Professor in the College of Education at UAEU presented her research paper under the title of, ‘The teacher of Arabic language: the challenges of using the Arabic and English languages’.