Education and Knowledge: Determining the format of the exams depends on developments in the general situation

"Distance education" allows travel and study abroad

• The Department advised schools not to take central exams except in cases of extreme necessity.

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Parents of students in private schools in Abu Dhabi, who have fully adopted the "distance education" model for their children, said that they wish to travel outside the country during the current period, accompanied by their family members, but they are concerned that there are restrictions that may prevent their children from pursuing classes from abroad.

They asked about the possibility of defining a mechanism for the first semester exams for students of the "distance education" model, calling on the Education and Knowledge Department to adopt an electronic evaluation and exams form, which does not require students to attend the school building, so that they can travel, and their children are allowed to follow their lessons while they are outside the country. .

For its part, the department emphasized the necessity for the student to attend classes on time, according to the scheduled schedule, pointing out that it had directed the emirate’s schools to provide the option of “remote education” for those wishing to study.

She said that she does not recommend central exams except in cases of extreme necessity, adding that "the examination form is subject to developments in the general situation."

In detail, families of students in private schools in Abu Dhabi called the Department of Education and Knowledge to allow students of the “distance education” model to take exams for this semester electronically, so that they can travel and take their children with them, especially since they could not travel during the summer vacation due to the Corona pandemic », And the restrictions imposed on the movement of travel and aviation in the world.

The relatives of students, Wael Massad, Nasma Shawqi, Marwa Abu Al-Fadl, Ahmed Taha and Hala Nada, confirmed their desire to visit their families in their home countries, and to take advantage of the flexibility of the "distance education" model in their children following their lessons from abroad, noting that what worries them is the failure of their return. Before the first semester exams, and the lack of an option to take tests remotely, especially since schools did not object to students attending classes from outside the country, they did not specify the evaluation mechanism that would be adopted, and whether central exams would be held requiring students ’attendance, or would the evaluation mechanism be Electronic, as was the case in the third semester of the last academic year.

Officials in private schools stated that the “remote education” model requires the student to attend classes on time, without entering the school at his whereabouts, noting that many inquiries have been received from students about the possibility of traveling outside the country, and their children follow their studies remotely.

They added that they assured the questioners that the school does not have jurisdiction over the student’s whereabouts while receiving "distance education" classes. However, they stressed the need to inform the school administration in case the family decided to travel.

They also stressed the need for the student to return no less than 14 days before the end of the first semester exams, so that he can spend the home quarantine period, in anticipation of holding direct exams that require students to attend exam halls in the school.

The Department of Education and Knowledge confirmed, in its response to a question about the possibility of students traveling during the first semester outside the country, with their commitment to regularly attending distance education classes from their whereabouts, that it directed private schools in Abu Dhabi to provide the option of "distance education" during the first semester, Each school has set a schedule for direct and registered classes for its students, and students are required to attend these classes on time regularly.

The department also indicated that students who are unable to return to the country due to travel restrictions in their home country may be re-registered in “distance education” programs until their return, after their schools contacted those concerned in the department to obtain approvals.

Students of the students asked about the form of examinations for students of the distance education model during the first semester, and the mechanism of their evaluation, and whether the end of the first semester examination for students of the "distance education" model would be held electronically, or would they be required to come to the school building to take the exams, and the department indicated that it would determine the form of the exams Later, in coordination with the concerned authorities, according to the developments of the general situation.

She advised schools to use diagnostic and formative tests to identify weaknesses in the learning process, and to diversify the means of evaluation in anticipation of the future, or in the event of closing schools again, noting that they do not recommend central exams except in cases of extreme necessity, because the student's attendance to the school building will become mandatory. .

The department also advised to adopt other methods of evaluation, especially when taking into account the desire of some students to complete their studies from home.

The department stressed the need to transfer the student to the next academic year, according to the global promotion system, to ensure that he remains within the study environment with his peers, in line with the guide of private schools policies in Abu Dhabi, where the school is obligated to address students ’academic delay.

She emphasized that preparing students for entrance examinations in higher education institutions and submitting applications for admission requires the school to return to the authority responsible for exams according to its curriculum to determine any change in examination dates and schedules, content requirements, assessment principles, and technology requirements.

She said that students should refer to the websites of the body that administers the test to view changes in dates, requirements, or procedures, while schools will be obligated to follow developments from the Ministry of Education regarding the national exams (EMSAT).

Achievement test

The Department of Education and Knowledge stipulated - in the event that the school deems it necessary to conduct a student achievement test - that the teacher takes into account reducing the test period as much as possible, while maintaining social distancing in the classroom according to the age group, and allowing students of determination to use assistive materials, according to their needs, with the need to These procedures are outlined in the student's IEP, and included in the risk assessment process.

14

One day the home quarantine period for students returning from abroad.

The Department called on private schools to provide an option (distance education) and to set the class schedule.

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