Indian education experts assess core learning concepts

Dubai: Education experts from Indian syllabus-based CBSE schools in the GCC and India are pushing for an accurate assessment of the current learning methods in their organisations in an effort to ensure that students clearly understand core concepts while learning.

GEMS Education, a leading international education company, and the India-based Educational Initiatives (EI), an internationally renowned organisation in the field of child psychology and student assessment methods, led discussions recently to review ways of improving the learning and teaching standards. Research by Educational Initiatives shows that while children today respond to rote-based questions relatively well, they fail to answer unfamiliar or application-based questions due to unclear core concepts.

Dr Wasil, Director of GEMS Education, said, "Assessments carried out with the right spirit and approach is a sure-shot path to empowerment and school leadership has to be ever on the learning curve to ensure this."

Sridhar Rajagopalan, Managing Director, Educational Initiatives, said EI and GEMS share the same philosophy of providing an improved system in the region.

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Interactive learning at heritage show

Abu Dhabi: Dances, poetry recitals, musical performances, traditional activities and food are some of the elements that visitors can enjoy at a heritage exhibition organised by the Al Sameeh School in Al Rahba.

The exhibition, now in its fifth edition, was inaugurated by Dr Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) on Tuesday. It will conclude tomorrow.

Challenges

Emphasising the importance of preserving the national identity and local culture through various methods, Dr Al Khaili said: "Teaching our younger generation about their history through such interactive means will help provide them with the tools to succeed in the future, as they will be able to observe examples of the challenges their forefathers faced and the means they used to overcome them."

According to the school's vice-principal, Khamis Mohammad Al Askari, the exhibition had been a hit ever since it was established in 2006. For this year's exhibition, the entire school body, faculty and administrative members all contributed to the event, which had to be placed in the school's courtyard due to its size.

"It took us one month to organise everything. Students brought things from home or helped to set up the different stalls and areas within the exhibition…we even had pupils from other schools organise traditional performances on our opening day," he said.

Al Askari also noted that among the new additions to this year's exhibition included a live animal section, where students and visitors are able to interact with camels, horses, dogs and pigeons.

"Even though the exhibition is only running for one week, I'm amazed by the large turnout we've received, whether its pupils from other schools or just visitors…even our own students keep asking their teachers to allow them to explore the exhibition and that reflects their continued keenness to learn more about their heritage," he said.

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