The new secondary school system aims to improve student outcome

H.E. Mr. Saad Bin Ibrahim Al-Mahmoud, Minister of Education and Higher Education and Secretary General of the Supreme Education Council paid a visit to Khalifa Independent Secondary School for Boys where he met the school operator Mr. Jamal Al Jaber, senior management and students. The minister was briefed on the new secondary school system, and discussed the challenges facing secondary schools and means of resolving them. He also met with students where they discussed challenges and future aspirations.

His Excellency urged students to exert every effort to achieve excellent results especially now that the school year was ending. “The new system for the secondary school aims to achieve diversity and choice providing advanced educational alternatives and variety,” said HE Al Mahmoud. “It represents a breakthrough that will help students join reputable universities or join the workforce in fields that suit their abilities, thus fulfilling the needs of the local markets.”

The new secondary school system, which was set up by the Education Institute, is characterized by tracks that provide students with the option to select subjects that best suit their academic capabilities and future career aspirations. These tracks cover Arts, sciences (additional math, and biology) where each school is required to avail two tracks for grade 11 and 12 students comprising four groups of subjects.

Group one consists of compulsory subjects: Islamic studies, physical education (3 lessons/week for Islamic and 1 lesson/week for PE

Group two contains curriculum standards subjects: they are classified into two categories, foundation and advanced level of standards. All subjects are compulsory except science where students can choose two of the three subjects under science namely, physics, chemistry and biology. Additionally, three Advanced level subjects (Arabic, English, math, physics, chemistry, biology, social studies {can choose either history or geography}) are compulsory – 3 lessons / week for foundation and 5 lessons/ week for advanced level.

Group three contains job related subjects: these include, arts, business management, design technology, languages, project management, computer programs or any other subjects the schools need to add to their curriculum and; group comprises four additional subjects.

Group four – additional subjects: such as research skills, family and values framework education

Grade ten students must undertake advanced level in Islamic education, Arabic literature, English language, math, physics, biology, social studies that include history, geography, national studies, physical education, ICT and national service in addition to extra activities such as writing an essay that is not less than 1000 words or conducting research.

In 2008, the Education Institute issued several regulations based on the previous policy of discipline and moral behavior in schools issued. The regulation stipulated that all male students join military service for one month during the summer vacation, therefore allowing students to choose to perform their military service any time during their secondary education.

The military service program includes religious, physical and social aspects. No male student will be granted his secondary school certificate without proof that he has completed his military service. All students, both male and female must also complete 25 hours of community service.

All secondary schools should 180 school days with each day lasting for not less than five and half hours.