HeadmasterAEs Resignation Surprises KHDA.

Summary: DUBAI u Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) on Monday said that they were aesorryAE to hear that the inspection process was the reason for the resignation of the headmaster of Dubai College, despite the schoolAEs board and managementAEs complete support during this yearAEs inspections.

Carlo Ferrario, the headmaster of the school sent a letter to parents on Sunday announcing his decision to step down citing the inspections being conducted in schools to be stifling independence as a reason that made him ouncomfortable and not a regime with which I feel able to work.o

In his letter, Ferrario said he believes the system of inspection that has been adopted in Dubai presents more disadvantages than benefits for schools like Dubai College.

Jameela Al Muhairi, head of the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB) at KHDA said that Dubai College co-operated fully with the inspectors. The board and management of Dubai College worked hard to follow the joint action plan our inspectors drew up with the school, she said.

In the first cycle of inspections that was introduced by the authority in 2008, Dubai College came in the oGoodo category of schools.

In the second cycle that was concluded on October 15 at the school, the authority said the school has improved in the assessment arrangements and in the quality of support to the students that were identified as areas that required attention.

oThe school has made notable improvements in performance since the last inspection of the school in October 2008,o Jameela said.

oThis year DSIB found that the school had been successful in addressing each of these areas and we have seen improvements in the quality of teaching across the school,o said Jameela.

The official said that at the end of C this yearAEs inspections, the headmaster also sent a message of appreciation C to the authority on the work of the C inspectors, praising the lead inspection in particular.

He said that he would like to convey his sincere appreciation for the manner in which the inspection was led and that the conduct was of the highest quality, said Jameela.

The headmasterAEs resignation has come as a surprise to private education providers in Dubai. oI know of the great work Carlo has done and his contribution to the community,o said Clive Pierrepont, director of communications at Taleem, UAEAEs second largest education provider.

oIt is sad to hear that he cannot work within the framework of the KHDA inspections,o he said.

Some education providers that are accredited by international organisations feel that the score they received by the local authority does not do justice to the high standards of education they maintain.

Schools in Dubai were also told to overhaul their teaching methodologies in Arabic and Islamic after the first cycle of inspections that has miffed many providers who blamed the Ministry of Education curriculum taught in those subjects for the poor attainment of students.

Even schools that received Aa an oOutstandingo grade were asked to improve in student attainment and progress in civic subjects.

[e-mail]

Copyright 2009 Khaleej Times. All Rights Reserved.

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company