ABU DHABI // Schools need to improve if the country is to reach its goal of becoming a knowledge-based economy, education experts warned yesterday.
Academics were speaking at Zayed University's new Abu Dhabi campus during the first meeting of the University Leadership Council, a body involving five of the country's major universities.
During a forum titled Bringing The Knowledge Economy, Prof Rory Hume, the provost of UAE University, said the education system should be designed as a training ground for the country's future innovators.
"Education from all levels, kindergarten to doctorate, everything needs to be tailored to this as one of the goals," he said. "You have to start as the Abu Dhabi Education Council [Adec] has started, in the kindergartens, to develop the right skills."
Education experts point to a nationwide problem of students reaching universities lacking key skills from languages to maths and time management. They say large amounts of money are wasted on bringing the students up to speed.
Dr Larry Wilson, who is also on the council, said preparing students for university was essential for diversifying the country's economy and developing technology in areas such as semiconductors and nuclear engineering.
"Introducing investigative learning and inquiry early will create a state of mind which will help students when they go to the universities," he said.
Dr Peter Heath, the chancellor of the American University of Sharjah and a council member, said that universities should play a role in developing the country's primary and secondary education system.
"We all have academics that can help understand meeting the needs of this country, asking what are the goals this country has set for itself, and how can we help."
Dr Rafic Makki, the head of strategic planning at Adec, also spoke. He said the biggest challenge was attracting students into the sciences. At school, pupils are forced to choose between humanities or the sciences. In Abu Dhabi, only 20 per cent opt for the sciences.
"We're trying to increase that," he said. "There's an emphasis on experiential learning such as the robotics competitions we've held around the country."
Noura Al Marri, the head of special education at the Ministry of Education, admitted there was much work to do to address students' lack of preparation. She said that many of those reaching university age had no idea of the expectations on them nor what subjects suited them.
The ministry has begun a series of courses for pupils about the age of 15 to better inform them of their options.
However, it was not only pupils who were in need of guidance, she said. Teachers must be better trained in dealing with gifted pupils, knowing how to both identify talent and then develop it.
"We are in dire need of skilled specialist diplomas for our teachers," she said. "For us to have research innovation policies we need to have courses for our teachers to explore these gifted and talented students."
Dr Warren Fox, the head of higher education at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai, which regulates and licenses the universities and colleges in the emirate's free zones, said the creation of the University Leadership Council was a logical next step in increasing scientific research in the UAE.
However, he said such research could not progress in the long term without both school reform and increased funding. Less than 0.1 per cent of the country's gross domestic product is invested in research.
"A critical area is also cultural relevance, Emirati participation and targeted effect on the local and regional economies," he said.
