35% say Arabic, Islamic studies key for UAE schools

MIXED REACTION: Poll respondents were split over the importance of Arabic and Islamic studies in the UAE curriculum. (Getty Images)

More than a third of people believe Arabic and Islamic studies is a key part of the UAE's school curriculum and should be taught in all schools, the results of an Arabian Business online poll reveals.

Thirty-five percent of respondents stressed the importance of the subjects and said they believed the UAE's education authority was right to downgrade any schools not putting enough focus on them.

A further 16 percent of people who took part in our poll said Arabic and Islamic studies should be taught but schools should not be ranked on it.

Arabian Business ran the survey online after it was revealed last week that some leading private schools in Dubai have lost their ‘outstanding’ rankings because they are not putting enough focus into the teaching of Arabic and Islamic studies.

Dubai’s school authority, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), had downgraded three UK schools while a fourth was currently being inspected, according to media reports.

The report named the schools as two branches of Jumeirah English Speaking School, Jumeirah College and Kings Dubai, but did not specify which school was still being vetted.

KHDA officials defended the move saying a high number of Emiratis and Arab expatriates attended private schools, so it was important to teach Arabic.

But our poll also showed considerable opposition to the KHDA's stance with 42 percent of respondents saying private schools should be able to teach what they like and how they like.

A further seven percent said they believed Arabic and Islamic studies should not be part of the curriculum at all.

Print | Email | Discuss this article

| Share |

READERS' COMMENTS

Are we still guests here?
Posted by Mike on Monday 9 November 2009 at 19:22 UAE time


I can't see the point of learning Arabic while living in the ME. As it has been pointed out many times by Arabs and Expats, we are guests here. In the UAE, one can get a 6 month visa now by spending 1,000,000 Dhs on a property. That makes me think that we are still guests here, even after spending 1 million.

So, can any one tell me why would we want to learn the language of a country when we are here strictly on a temporary basis?

Agreed
Posted by Adam, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 8 November 2009 at 04:59 UAE time


While I was at Dubai College, we learned to read and write Arabic (not as difficult as you may think), memorised the call to prayer for our oral exam and wrote two seemingly endless courseworks on the UAE and the Five Pillars of Islam, a fact that once kept a group of girls from Al Ain mildy enthralled on a flight to London. When I went upto Oxford to read History ten years ago, I realised that was the one area we had been excluded from, which somewhat disappointed my tutor who, in the week we chose to study Nasserism & Arab Unity, exclaimed that he had been hoping to learn something from me for once.

Nonetheless what I did learn at school has opened up many friendships and insights, has inspired me to keep learning the language, and I would reccommend it to anyone who has the privilege of growing up here. Let's also remember that we are part of a much wider Arabic speaking world and it is as much a UN world language as English, French or Spanish. Ditto the importance of knowing something about Islam.

I have never regretted being born British, or Anglican. Like any true British expatriate I hate the thought of living in England, but it is nothing to do with being unable to work and prosper there.

Likewise Dubai is my home and I have as much loyalty and familiarity in that as I do with any other aspect of my identity. It is where I have spent 20 of the last 28 years, it is the place people have always associated me with when I am abroad, and it is too late to grow up somewhere else. On that note I must confess to feeling a certain sympathy with both K and Mounir. Like the UAE's own people, our category of expatriate is in an even smaller minority amongst the increasingly transient ebb and flow of the population.

To K
Posted by Skeptic on Thursday 5 November 2009 at 13:22 UAE time


Hi K, that was a very good comment, very deep & insightful, which shows the kind of dilemma all expats face here, in different degrees (though not as dramatic as yours).

Most of us who spent our early days in other Countries, we can always say to ourselves - I can just go home if I lose my job or if I cant take it over here any more ... but people like you, this IS your HOME !! Where do YOU go when things get rough ?

Another very sad fact that you highlighted is not being able to speak Arabic even after 10+ years of schooling - that is just so pathetic & unbelievable, if it wasnt so true ... I know it is true, I have friends born & studied here who cant speak a word of Arabic !!

Funny thing in all these back and forth comments on this subject, does anyone care about or even acknowledge these issues ??

It is such a waste if a person who is is so dedicated to the UAE as you so obviously are, has to leave the Country if he loses his job or is medically unfit to renew his visa - what a huge waste of a precious human resource, after so many years of nurturing !!!

I guess many readers will sympathise with your situation which really none of us have any answers to, I really hope these things will be addressed in the future.

Most of us who have kids who are born and brought up here, they will all face the same dilemma someday, as you are facing !!today !!

The United Arab Emirates is our home
Posted by K, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Thursday 5 November 2009 at 10:06 UAE time


I was born and brought up in this country. I've studied both Arabic & Islamic Studies during all my school years. I was a proper nerd, and I scored 90%-100% in all my Arabic tests & exams. Yet, I cannot speak Arabic. Why? Because when you asked the Arabic teacher what did that sentence or question or article mean, she looked at you blankly and said, "Don't waste my time by worrying about the meaning! Just remember the answer!" I can't speak Arabic, but it certainly wasn't from a lack of trying on my part, or my parents, who fought almost weekly with the school to teach Arabic as a language instead of a rote learning subject. But the school, and most other schools for that matter, were not bothered, because teaching a language was too much trouble for them.

Am I proud to not be able to speak Arabic? Certainly not. I wish I could speak it, so when I sing the national anthem of this great nation, I know what every word means, instead of trying to remember the translation. The United Arab Emirates is my home, I pray for its stability & progress everyday, and I proudly sing its national anthem. I have seen this country grow from when the Dubai World Trade Center was the tallest building in the country and could be seen from miles away, to now when the metropolis of skyscrapers doesn’t appear to be too far from actually touching the sky. I remember when our eyes would yearn for some greenery and we would jump on the grass barefoot with delight, to now when it is a lush oasis with beautiful parks & tree-lined roads. I could not imagine living in another country, and even if better opportunities were offered, I could not leave this place. Why? Because this is my home. I would fight for it, and I fiercely protect & stand up for it against all those who do not appreciate it. I have a responsibility to serve this nation, and contribute to its progress. Why? Because this is my home. I am an expat, and this is my home.

Mounir, before you start generalizing all expats as disloyal, dispensable workers, who have no allegiance to this country, think! We are all here to serve this nation, so don’t put us down and question our loyalty because we have struggled to learn the language, and not from lack of trying, because we try, and we try, and we try, and we will continue to try. Maybe you should try understanding the hurdles we face instead of just lambasting all us expats.

View all comments (22) >>

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Arabian Business would like to point out that only comments relevant to the story will be published. Any containing personal insults or inappropriate language will not be approved.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Enter the words above *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM