Latest news with #Kindergarten
Arabian Business
8 hours ago
- General
- Arabian Business
Abu Dhabi announces new mandatory Arabic rules for kindergarten pupils
Abu Dhabi has introduced new rules for mandatory Arabic lessons for pupils starting in the next academic year. The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) announced a new policy that will bring Arabic into every private and charter kindergarten across the emirate, starting from Pre-KG to KG2, beginning after summer in 2025. The move aims to nurture language, identity, and belonging from the very first years of learning. Abu Dhabi Arabic lessons Under the new ADEK School KG Arabic Curriculum Policy, all young learners will receive 240 minutes per week of structured, age-appropriate Arabic instruction. This will increase to 300 minutes per week beginning in the 2026/27 academic year. The new policy ensures that every child, whether a native speaker or learning Arabic for the first time, receives consistent, high-quality instruction during the most critical phase of language development and has the opportunity to grow up confident in the language that connects them to their culture, community, and future. This initiative is timely as research confirms that young children learn languages most effectively and Arabic represents more than a subject, it is a connection to identity, values and heritage. ADEK's recent survey showed that while Arabic is widely spoken at home, many children still struggle to use it confidently. This policy bridges that gap with schools and families working together to keep Arabic alive and thriving. Learning will be engaging, built around play, storytelling, songs, and exploration. The policy outlines two tracks: One designed to deepen mother tongue skills for native Arabic speakers Another tailored for non-native speakers and newcomers This will ensure that each child is supported at their level, whether native speaker or beginner. And with specially trained teachers, modern materials, and exciting classroom activities, Arabic will become a language students look forward to using every day. Mariam Al Hallami, Executive Director Early Education, said: 'This is about more than just adding Arabic lessons. It's about giving every child in Abu Dhabi the gift of language, identity, and connection starting from day one. We want Arabic to feel natural, interactive and alive in every classroom and every home.' This new policy bridges the gap between Arabic learning in nurseries, implemented through ADEK's Early Education Institutions (EEI) policies, and the start of mandatory Arabic instruction in Cycle 1 in line with Ministry of Education requirements, supporting steady language development during the early years. Parents are also a big part of the journey. Schools will share tools and updates, so families can join in the fun, whether practicing new words at home, reading stories together, or taking part in Arabic-themed school events.
Khaleej Times
11 hours 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.
CTV News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Alberta teachers concerned planned junior high curriculum changes for fall won't be able to be implemented
Teachers from across the province met in Edmonton over the Victoria Day long weekend for their annual Alberta Teachers' Association representative assembly, in which they decided to move forward on two main issues: the government's planned changes curriculum and on opposing the use of literacy screeners for Kindergarten to Grade 3. Jason Schilling, the president of the teachers' association, told CTV News Edmonton on Monday the curriculum changes spurred a 'big discussion' on the Alberta government's plans to move ahead with changes to it in the fall. The problem for the teachers, Schilling said, is that they have yet to see what it looks like and don't expect they will be ready to put it into action next school year. 'They want to pilot this curriculum in the fall, but we've yet to see a draft version of this curriculum, and we're getting into the third week of May,' Schilling said. 'There's just no way that teachers will be ready to implement any kind of pilot in the fall when they've not seen the curriculum.' On the provincial plan to use literacy scanners for Kindergarten to Grade 3, Schilling said teachers passed a resolution opposing the move. 'Why are we testing kids in kindergarten on concepts that are taught in Grade 2?' he said. 'Teachers are really concerned about the harm that it's doing to young students as they're just starting their education careers.' With files from CTV News Edmonton's Sean McClune
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Education leaders work to get more kids back in the classroom
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Missing school in Tennessee is defined by two categories: truancy and chronic absenteeism. Truancy is five more unexcused absences within a school year. Chronic absenteeism, missing school whether it be excused or unexcused, is a federal statistic defined by students missing 10% of school days during the year. The state average for chronic absenteeism is 18.9%. In Northeast Tennessee, the range is from just over 23% in places like Hawkins County and Kingsport to 11% in Greeneville. 'It's called an epidemic because it's just a changed mindset with families,' said Elizabethton City Schools Director of Attendance Travis Thompson One of the biggest issues school districts face right now is with doctors' notes — excused absences signed off by physicians. 'A family might come in with say 40, 50 excused days of school and a doctors note that covers every one of them,' Thompson said. 'We have received excuses from Colorado, that say a child has strep and will miss three days,' Washington County Schools Director of Attendance Shannon Gray said. 'I'm not sure how they test for strep throat in Colorado.' Still, the numbers are improving in most districts, like in Washington County. Ridgeview Elementary has the lowest absentee rate with 9.7%. Gray is teaming up with Greeneville City Schools and Johnson City Schools to come up with new ways to get students back in school. 'We've compared support plans, how we are able to do contracts with these kinds and what we can put in place,' Gray said. One of those success stories is inspirational videos, a collaboration between David Crockett High School multi-media and Grandview Elementary. 'That is one of our videos, Kindergarten Counts,' Gray said. 'Because that habit starts in kindergarten. If they are chronically absent or have poor attendance in kindergarten they are 30% less likely to be on track in third grade.' Mountain City Elementary is also having success in the early grades, leaning on teachers and classes with rewards and incentives 'We try to put an emphasis on challenges, homeroom challenges,' Mountain City Elementary Assistant Principal Sadie Fletcher said. 'The monthly attendance winner, those students get their picture put on the board as a reward.' Elizabethton City Schools' Thompson says rewards haven't worked as well for his school system. The district absentee rate is right at the state average of 18.8%. 'Just really trying to engage parents through multiple people instead of just maybe an administrator,' Thompson said. Community effort is key as districts work to increase the number of students that are in school every day. 'Our goal was originally to reduce it by 2% each year, which we've done,' Gray said. 'I would be happy if we were below 10% because quite honestly that's a legitimate number for us.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
