Post School Intentions of Senior School Students in PPP Government Schools, Abu Dhabi Geoffrey Millar Dep. Project Director, SSAT March 17, 2011 1.

Post School Intentions of Senior School Students in PPP

Government Schools, Abu Dhabi

Geoffrey MillarDep. Project Director, SSAT

March 17, 2011

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The greatest use that can be made of wealth is to

invest it in creating generations of trained and

educated young people.

HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, 2004

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The change in the education sector is

necessary to achieve the goals of the economic vision of the emirate.

Dr. Mugheer al Khaili,

Director General of ADEC

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Abu Dhabi 2030 Vision…..

Human Capital is…the sum total of the useful knowledge, experience, training and capacity of people.

Increased human capital makes a country more productive.

The most effective way to increase human capital is through formal education

KG School Higher/Voc Ed.

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School .. to .. HEdCurrent Issues….for boys

Easy access to public service jobs for boys where…•minimum standard is not demanding•high certainty of acceptance•Pay attractive•Other conditions are very attractive

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and….for boys and girls…

Foundation Course Entrance TrapStudents ‘rest on their laurels’ with a 150 + CEPA, enter Foundation and most then fail to progress to their chosen course Career Expectations: “I want to be a manager…”Not nearly enough students take Science and Technical courses

& then there’s ….. teaching

So…..we find…• Attractive employment options without HEd• Under representation of boys in HEd• Many leave before completing a degree• Very low enrolment in maths,

engineering or science/science related courses

• Continued need for highly-skilled expats including teachers

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Survey Results 1

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Almost the same percentage of nationals as non-nationals intend to continue to HEd

Notes.. •It was hard to find girls selecting ‘the stay at home’ option

•Boys home option may indicate work on ‘the farm’

Survey Results 2

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More “Science” stream students intend to go on to HEd than those in “Arts”.

also..

Note the high percentage who say they will consider teaching

Survey Results 3

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More girls intend continuing to HEd than boys

but..

the boy percentages are higher than expected.

Survey Results 4

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Also, little difference was found in intensions ‘city’ v ‘desert’, although it is fully understood that the students in the desert schools are academically weaker.

ConclusionWhat was expected from anecdote was confirmed, but much more weakly than expected.and…

Teaching was considered more favourably than expected.

What students said..In selecting HEd as a destination, reasons cited were

•To get a better job ~60%•For more money ~10%

but…

•25-33% said that they ‘wanted to do something positive for their country’

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What students said..

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about the possibility of Teaching

•It was too hard; •Too boring; •Pay was cited but…..

•Some referred positively to teaching as giving back to the country

So…..we find…• At least ‘on paper’ the vast majority of upper

high school students indicate that they wish to do HEd study

• That many motives are altristic

• That teaching was being considered

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The Way Forward

More information is clearly needed:

•Thorough Research; from anecdote to validity•Data; statistics, trends•Strengthened secondary/HEd interface •Student Programs

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A Careers Program?

Introduction of a full Career Education program for students in Cycle 3 schools and lower covering•Career options - especially promotion of the private sector work•Student interests and drivers analysed - Orientation & Aptitude Testing •HEd outreach / visits•Involvement of Parents•Tracking of students

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Other Thoughts….

• Careers materials for students, parents & teachers• Careers Centre within schools• Enterprise Education

- Commerce subjects within the curriculum• Teacher training/PD for current teachers• Work Experience programs?• Annual/regular Career Expos• Etc etc

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Shukran…

Questions

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