Latest news with #EducationAuthority
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
Abu Dhabi mandates 4 hours of weekly Arabic lessons for KG students in private schools
Abu Dhabi's education authority on Monday announced a new policy requiring kindergartens in private and educational partnership schools to allocate 240 minutes (four hours) per week for Arabic language instruction. This directive will start from the first semester of the 2025–2026 academic year, the Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek) confirmed. The directive applies to all early childhood education levels — from pre-kindergarten (first foundation stage) to second kindergarten (first year). The weekly Arabic instruction time will further increase to 300 minutes (five hours) starting in the 2026–2027 school year. According to Adek, the initiative aims to strengthen Arabic language skills among young learners while fostering cultural identity and a sense of belonging from the earliest years of education. The move is part of broader efforts to enhance language acquisition and preserve national heritage through early and consistent exposure to Arabic during formative learning stages.
Belfast Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
‘Potential conflict of interest' after education chief is asked if ‘happy' with FoI response related to himself
An expert on Freedom of Information law has said it is a 'potential conflict of interest' for Education Authority chief executive Richard Pengelly to be involved in decision-making about the release of material relating to himself.
See - Sada Elbalad
16-05-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
German City Bans Mobile Phones in Schools
Israa Farhan Starting 1 June, the German city of Bremen will officially ban the use of mobile phones in primary and middle schools, in a move aimed at improving student learning, social development, and health. The new policy, announced by the city's education authority, will not apply to secondary schools, which will retain the autonomy to set their own rules regarding mobile phone use. A spokesperson for Bremen's Education Authority confirmed to the German Press Agency (DPA) that the decision follows extensive consultations with school administrators, paediatricians, and education experts. The policy is based on growing scientific evidence highlighting the detrimental effects of smartphone use during school hours on children's focus, cognitive development, and social interactions. Sascha Karolin Aulepp, Bremen's Minister for Children and Education, underlined the reasoning behind the ban, stating that personal smartphones are not essential in the school environment. On the contrary, she emphasized, they distract students from learning, reduce engagement during breaks, and limit physical activity. Under the new directive, students in affected schools will be required to keep their mobile phones turned off and stored away during the school day. School staff will be responsible for monitoring compliance with the rule. Exceptions to the ban will be permitted in specific cases, such as when a mobile phone is medically necessary for a student's health or well-being. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War
Belfast Telegraph
15-05-2025
- General
- Belfast Telegraph
Union calls for end to ‘precarious' temporary contracts for NI school support workers
More than 2,500 general and special needs classroom assistants are also not moving to permanent contracts despite more than four years of service. The union Unite has called on Education Minister Paul Givan to intervene to end precarious 'temporary' working among school support workers. Unite has made public figures that were supplied to trade unions by the EA, which has revealed widespread reliance on temporary working for staff such as nursery, general and classroom assistants in schools. Many of those working under these contracts do not receive pay during school holiday periods and have little job security from one year to the next. Given the predominant female composition of the workforce, the union highlighted major concerns that women workers were being treated in a problematic manner. More than two-thirds (14,930 of 21,815) of those working as assistants in schools are on temporary contracts. Reliance on temporary workers is greatest among general assistants (85%). Twelve per cent of the total workforce were temporary workers despite having four years of service. That figure includes more than 2,500 classroom assistants of which more than 1,800 have responsibilities for special educational needs children. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'The scale of this issue raises real questions about why a predominantly female workforce in our schools – including those with responsibilities for children with special educational needs – are being treated so poorly by a public body.' The union's regional officer Kieran Ellison added: 'In previous months, Unite revealed the extent of reliance on school support staffing by those without relevant qualifications or even child safety checks being in place. 'This latest evidence now shows the long-term and widespread use of temporary workers in the sector. 'That more than 2,500 classroom assistants – including more than 1,800 special educational needs classroom assistants – find themselves still in precarious temporary work despite having four years of service is disgraceful. "The Education Minister needs to intervene quickly to end this unfair treatment of low paid school support workers.' News Catch Up - Thursday 15 May A spokesperson for the EA said: 'Classroom assistants play a critical role in our schools, providing invaluable support to some of our most vulnerable children and young people. 'EA is aware that a range of complex issues impact our ability to recruit and retain classroom assistants. The delivery model for support for children and young people with additional needs is in need of reform. This includes the employment model for classroom assistants. 'In line with the DE SEND Delivery Plan, the Education Authority is progressing a strategic review of the classroom assistant employment model which includes job descriptions, contracts and a range of other employment-related matters including qualifications, professional standards and professional development. 'Whilst at an early stage, we are engaging with a wide range of stakeholders as this work progresses, including classroom assistants, school leaders, trade unions and children and young people. 'We are firmly committed to improving the support model for children and young people and will continue to work with all relevant stakeholders as we progress this work.'
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Dozens of children in Fermanagh and South Tyrone miss out on pre-school choices
Thirty children in Fermanagh and South Tyrone have not secured a place in any of their first, second or third choice pre-schools for the upcoming academic year, according to new figures released by the Department of Education. The statistics, provided by Education Minister Paul Givan in response to a question from Ulster Unionist MLA Colin Crawford, show that 838 children across Northern Ireland were left without an offer for a place in one of their top three preferred pre-school settings as of April 3, 2025. Fermanagh and South Tyrone is among the affected constituencies, with 30 families facing disappointment at this critical stage of early years education. While 222 children across the region were offered places in their fourth or lower preference settings, others remained unplaced. The Education Authority (EA) has said that 2,316 pre-school places were still available across Northern Ireland at the time, though not necessarily in the areas or settings parents had hoped for. ADVERTISEMENT In total, 20,481 applications for pre-school places were received during Stage One of the admissions process. Of those, 19,861 children (97 per cent) were offered a funded place, but not all in their top choices. The Department has noted that further offers may have been made following the end of Stage One, but these figures were not included in the breakdown.
