Teachers Show Commitment to Education Reform

Teachers at Independent Schools have been rising to the challenge of providing the best education to students.

In the four years since its inception Education for A New Era has placed a demand on teachers who have themselves been engaged in new learning. The introduction of any system is bound to present challenges but teachers in Independent Schools overwhelmingly report that they are committed to this new style of teaching and would never go back to the old system.

"In the old system you have a long-term job but the way you educate is very basic. Some supervisor would come in every semester and watch you teach an 'ideal' lesson," says one teacher.

"(But) Independent Schools evaluate you in a much different way based on many aspects of your work all year long. It does not take so much time before you can tell who is doing a good job and who is not," he says.

The Independent School system works best when teachers are interactively involved in education and engaged with students in their learning. Education becomes a pro-active dynamic process. Teachers spend more time thinking about the most creative and innovative ways to help students learn. They also have the freedom and responsibility to search for the best resources and develop their own teaching methods that best meet the new internationally benchmarked curriculum standards.

"Now the teacher cannot leave school, go home and forget it," says another teacher. "I perform research, read books and articles. I buy newspapers and look for articles to use in class. I also search for other resources. Now the teacher has homework."

Another teacher points out that the teachers who are most creative and innovative - the teacher's who are genuinely dedicated to their students - are the teachers who have real job security:

"In Qatar's Independent Schools you secure your job by yourself according to your own performance. If you do your job well you do not have to worry." Staff supports each other and that has also played an important role in the success of the reform effort. Teachers and principals who meet regularly to discuss and resolve any difficulties and share new ideas produce more effective learning.

"Here we all work together to make the school better and take care of each student's success," says a proud teacher.

Another teacher acclaims the high standard of facilities and resources.

"We have the best equipment and this makes our job so much easier."

One teacher emphasized the fact that the students graduating from Independent Schools are able to apply their learning in research and study at higher institutions or the can directly enter the workforce.

"We don't need to reach out to employers to place students. They come to us for our students" said one teacher.

One comment sums up the sense of purpose that has evolved as a result of the Education for A New Era initiative.

"Teaching in an Independent School is to have purpose, and that's a big difference between the old way and the new way. Education for A New Era is a gigantic investment. It will pay even greater dividends in the future. It's an investment in human beings and that's the best policy."