DINA JOUNY (DUBAI)
Today one million and one hundred students are returning to public and private schools in the UAE to resume the third and last semester of the school year 2023-2024.
The Emirates Schools Establishment (ESE) has distributed the timeline for the third semester, which includes the implementation of two standardised tests aimed at improving overall performance and enhancing students’ skills.
First to eleventh-grade students will sit for the Arabic standardised test from April 29 to May 17. This test aims to improve students’ reading and writing skills across all public schools in the country. It also helps identify gaps in linguistic skills to design targeted training programs for teachers and assess the effectiveness of school curricula.
While the standardised test does not impact students’ final grades, it provides valuable data to educators for enhancing student scores and measuring progress, as well as identifying risks related to reading difficulties and planning targeted educational interventions, according to the ESE.
Additionally, schools will administer the MAP Growth test, a global assessment of students’ progress and their academic achievements in math. This test enables differentiated teaching for students based on their skill levels and measures academic progress against set expectations, allowing for comparison with peers.
The third semester includes a trial test from May 29 to June 4 for subjects in the practical group (B), followed by final examinations from June 5 to June 14. The results for the third semester will be assessed and issued on July 5, while Eid Al Adha holiday will last from June 15 to 18. Summer vacation officially begins on July 1, while leave for educational, technical, and administrative staff of schools will commence on July 15, 2024.