Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi, the Director General of the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), welcomed more than 400 newly recruited Emirati teachers yesterday during a meeting held to help familiarise them with ADEC's strategy plan, mission, and vision.

During her speech, she affirmed the important partnership ADEC has with all its school teachers, and explained that through this family-like relationship, teachers are kept in the loop on all changes, reforms and challenges, while playing a major role in driving education for students across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi forward.

"I am proud of our teachers who we consider part of the ADEC family, and are major drivers towards shaping the future of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi through their inspiring teaching methods and dedication. I myself was a teacher one day, and take pride in announcing that, because this profession is not only noble, but gives you a feeling of great self-reward and accomplishment once you see the positive end results amongst your pupils."

She added: "The teaching profession requires loyalty, dedication, passion for teaching, and continues follow-up on best teaching and learning skills as per 21st century benchmarks. You need to stay updated with newest trends in education, with ADEC's reformation journey and with the government's mission to stand out as one of the best education systems; education is rapidly reforming and you need to keep up with that pace."

According to results recently released in the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 85 percent of teachers across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi are satisfied with their job, while 95.4 percent of teachers believe they are able to help students respect and praise the value of learning; 93.1 percent believe they help enhance critical thinking skills amongst their students.

Dr. Al Qubaisi praised these findings, and explained that they only highlight the tremendous amount of efforts exerted in the education field amongst all those concerned, with special emphasis on the efforts exerted by teachers who are continuously seeking new ways to help stimulate their students and classrooms.

While speaking to the room full of Emirati teachers, Dr. Al Qubaisi explained that a teacher is a role model for a student, which is exactly why ADEC helps provide continuous professional development and guidance for its teachers, in efforts to keep them in the loop with latest teaching and learning trends.

ADEC's Director General explained that attracting Emirati graduates to work in the education field is important to maintain national identity, traditions and customs. She added that a huge part of ADEC's strategy plan is to Emiratise its teaching field, since Emirati teachers are considered role models for students, especially through providing them with national values, information on different demographics and on preserving their customs and traditions.

She also emphasised the important role a teacher plays in enhancing a student's national identity, culture and heritage, which are major drivers towards graduating a competent, reliant, and motivated workforce of you who are expected to be passionate about driving their country's economy forward.

ADEC's Director General spoke about the importance of partnering with a student's parent, who should be involved in their child's education journey at all times. She explained that one of the major roles a teacher plays is to ensure that a parent is well aware of their child's academic progress.

"Through a strong partnership amongst ADEC, schools and parents, a student's future will definitely look positive. We should all work hand in hand to help motivate our children to become innovators and inventors of the future, capable of keeping up with modern development and meeting demanding future needs. The journey may not be easy, things may feel challenging at times, but what you are accomplishing with your determination and hard work will help inspire thousands," she said.

Dr. Al Qubaisi noted the importance of teachers communicating and networking amongst each other in order to learn best learning and teaching practices. "You should learn from the most innovative classroom teacher and see what it is she or he does to help inspire his or her student. There is nothing wrong with learning from one another and brainstorming about best classroom practices, actually some of the most successful education systems are those that consist of teachers working together for the best interest of their students, while learning from each other's experiences."

According to ADEC reports, the rate of male and female Emirati teachers working across public schools in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi amounts to 52 percent, with an increase of approximately 5 percent from previous years. While the ratio of leadership and supervisory positions amounts to approximately 81 percent. The total number of Emirati teachers in public schools has reached 7,429 versus 6,811 residents, while female constitute about 85 percent of the total population.

These numbers have improved as a result of higher interest amongst Emiratis regarding the teaching field which is viewed as a noble and professional field that will help drive the economy of the UAE forward. Many postgraduate teaching programs are also available more than before for all types of educators.

ADEC's Director General explained that attracting Emirati graduates to work in the education field is important to maintain national identity, traditions and customs. She added that a huge part of ADEC's strategy plan is to Emiratise its teaching field, since Emirati teachers are considered role models for their students, especially through providing them with national values, information on different demographics and on preserving their customs and traditions.

"It is extremely important for ADEC and me personally, to know that our teachers are happy with their jobs, because a happy teacher is a hardworking, productive, forward thinking, loyal teacher. It is also of upmost importance that our teachers familiarise themselves with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 to understand the aim of our wise and prudent leadership for the next few years ahead and for the future our country, which is why I ask you to think and see your students as your own sons and daughters," she said.

Teachers expressed their happiness with the meeting, and for joining the ADEC family, confirming the perception that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) alongside innovation and experimentation play a pivotal role in establishing a competent and strong future workforce for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Teachers expressed their determination to be a role model for their students, while exerting every possible effort in order to understand work in line with ADEC's policy and strategy to help prepare and educate, a creative and innovative generation able to take responsibility both now and for the future.