GEMS Education launches Arabic and Islamic Programme to support Emiratisation

• Nafis on-the-job training tailored to novice Arabic and Islamic Emirati teachers
  
• Provides personalised coaching to succeed in their future teaching roles  
  
• 13 Emirati fresh graduates from Al Wasl University enrol in the programme

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: GEMS Education has launched a year-long on-the-job Nafis Arabic and Islamic novice teacher induction programme designed to support fresh Emirati graduates and prepare them for jobs in Arabic language and Islamic education departments across the GEMS network of schools.

The programme, which will run from January through December 2023, provides systematic and comprehensive support for teacher trainees to equip them with curriculum awareness and skills that will allow them to succeed in their future roles. 

It is an individualised programme that is focused on extensive support and mentoring of trainees, who will be involved in a series of professional development opportunities, many of which will be personalised to meet their needs.

Nafis is the government-backed organisation that supports UAE nationals and promotes professional opportunities for its citizens with collaborations with private companies such as GEMS.

The trainees will attend professional coaching sessions around key teaching and learning practices and strategies, including the Ministry of Education curriculum standards and regulatory requirements, UAE schools’ inspection framework, school assessment policy and evidence-based teaching. Upon completion of the programme, trainees will be considered for entry-level Arabic or Islamic teacher positions in GEMS schools.

Essa Al Mulla, Chief of National Workforce Development, Emirates National Development Programme (ENDP), said: “GEMS Education is not just another company striving to meet its Emiratisation targets. The group has set a five-year strategy to upskill, attract and retain Emirati teachers. This programme is exclusively tailored for UAE national job seekers and is a great opportunity for them to build a successful career path in the private education sector and gain first-rate experience in line with international standards.”

Fatima AlShamsi, Head of Emiratisation, GEMS Education, said: “In collaboration with Al Wasl University, GEMS Education has identified 13 Emirati fresh graduates to attend Nafis on-the-job training for novice Arabic and Islamic Emirati teachers. I am delighted to be part of this great initiative, which is the first of a series of planned partnerships with key universities in the United Arab Emirates that promote GEMS as the education sector’s employer of choice.”

Mary Saad, Corporate Head – Arabic and Islamic Improvement, GEMS Education, said: “Through personalised coaching and mentoring, the Nafis on-the-job training for novice Arabic and Islamic Emirati teachers aims to provide participants with unrivalled opportunities to observe experienced teachers within their subject areas and beyond, practise diverse teaching and co-teaching methods in the classrooms and engage in self-reflection and action planning for professional growth. The programme will help equip participants with the required knowledge across all curricula, as well as the right tools to make an impact in their future teaching roles.”

The programme serves as a key initiative to promote the UAE’s Emiratisation agenda in an important strategic sector for the country. It will follow UAE teaching standards and is in line with UAE National Agenda targets to offer improved professional opportunities for its Emirati citizens.

In October, GEMS launched an initiative to promote Emiratisation across its network of schools and ancillary services in the UAE. The programme supports the UAE Government’s efforts to drive and promote Emiratisation within skilled jobs in the private sector, augmenting the Emirati Human Resources Competitiveness Council’s Nafis programmes.