New Licensing Laws For UAE Teachers
Teachers across the country will soon be subject to new UAE-wide licensing laws with new legislation expected to come into effect by early next year. The laws aim to standardise qualifications for teachers in both the public and private sectors.
The initiative has been developed by the National Qualifications Agency (NQA) the Ministry, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Abu Dhabi Education Council and the Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education Training.
“We’ll be introducing teacher licensing soon all over, hopefully in the beginning of next year,” assistant secretary at the Ministry of Education, Marwan Al Salawah told UAE newspaper The National. He went on, “The committee is now finalising the licensing standards and will soon state all the details relevant to the first implementation stage.”
It's understood, that teachers who don't meet the set requirements will be asked to either take further exams or have additional training to bring them up to standard.
Dr Thani Al Mehairi,director general of the NQA said,“The committee already approved its work plan and the expected timeframe, which has taken into account the disparity that currently exists in the criteria for assessing and licensing teachers at the local and national levels, and the size of the workforce in the education and training sector.”
"The NQA, in conjunction with the ministry is also in the process of creating a teachers handbook. It's hoped the book will work as a guide for local and expatriate teachers, and assist them in understanding the various categories and the skills and knowledge they will need for each education sector," said Dr Thani Al Mehairi.
The NQA hopes that the handbook will not only target UAE nationals, but also everyone who is interested in, or considering a teaching career inside the UAE.
