Today's Edition
A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)
The modern and professional school education system of the UAE is attracting teachers from all over the world. Educators from across the world who have a passion for delivering exceptional teaching and learning experiences are vying to join the schools in the UAE attracted by the state-of-the-art facilities and good working environment.
GEMS Education, a leading private school education provider in the UAE, has recruited over 1,850 new teachers from 57 nationalities as the schools are about to begin a new academic year later next week.
Many of the new recruits are relocating from other countries, chiefly from the UK, India and Egypt. Two-thirds of the new hires are females.
GEMS Education, in a statement, said most of the new teachers are settling into the school communities and are beginning their exciting journey in the new academic setting.
GEMS Education organised an event titled Awareness Day to mark the integration of the new recruits into its ecosystem.
Aletihad spoke to a few teachers to find out why they chose to come to the UAE after leaving settled lives in their native countries.
Donna Hickens, a UK citizen, who came to the UAE a week back, is starting her stint in the UAE as head of business-secondary, GEMS Al Barsha National School, Dubai. Hickens, who has 15 years of experience as a teacher in the UK, said she chose to come to the UAE to tackle new challenges in a multicultural environment. “Staff at GEMS are welcoming and helpful. Facilities and environment here in the UAE are very good for my professional growth,” she said.
Mark Ryan, a teacher of fine arts and originally from Canada, is now working at GEMS World Academy, Abu Dhabi. Ryan, who had a decade-long teaching stint in Hong Kong before coming to Abu Dhabi, sees the UAE as a land of opportunity.
Ryan said a sense of adventure and urge to explore new ideas and cultures brought him to the UAE. He said the IB school system, where he is currently teaching, allows for collaboration between subject areas, therefore enhancing the learning opportunities and connections with the community.
Shivani Oza, who is teaching Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science at GEMS New Millennium School, Dubai, said a yearning for international exposure and an opportunity to work with people of different nationalities brought her to the UAE. Oza, who has some good number of years of teaching experience in India, hopes to make full use of the opportunity offered by GEMS Education.
GEMS Education Founder Sunny Varkey, who led the Awareness Day, spoke of the crucial importance of teachers in an ever-challenging, fast-changing world.
He said on the occasion: “Investing in wellbeing is not just a strategy. It is a fundamental principle that underpins the long-term success of GEMS Education. We remain a place where talented people want to join, stay, and ultimately retire with a deep sense of accomplishment and pride.”
Group Chief Executive Officer, Dino Varkey, said on the occasion: “We exist to secure the future, the future of our ecosystem, the future of our planet and the future of humanity. We are incredibly privileged that our purpose – to put a quality education within the reach of every student – allows us to do just this.”
Dr. Saima Rana, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are very proud that so many of our teachers are choosing to make their long-term futures with GEMS Education based on the professional development, wellbeing support system, and matchless career opportunities with us.”
The education group is also ahead in the Emiratisation programme. A total of 794 Emirati nationals have joined GEMS since the launch of the Emiratisation programme in late 2022 in support of the UAE government’s strategy.
Besides, GEMS has retained more of its teachers than ever before with 80% returning for the new academic year despite increased competition globally for the best teachers.
GEMS Education is opening two new schools – GEMS Founders School – Masdar City (Abu Dhabi) and GEMS Founders School – Dubai South – to meet record demand for school places.
GEMS expects to have more than 140,000 enrollments across 44 schools in the UAE in the new year with an addition of 4,200 seats.
