Sharjah Hosts 3rd International Summit On Educational Excellence And Innovation

The third edition of the Sharjah International Summit on Improvement in Education has officially commenced at the Sharjah Education Academy (SEA) campus. Under the patronage of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, this year's summit is themed "Pioneering Future Education". A collaborative effort between the Sharjah Education Academy, the Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA), and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the event is a focal point for discussions on enhancing educational systems.

At the heart of the summit are four critical pillars: the impact of AI on future education, evaluation and innovation in technology-driven times, and ensuring quality of life within educational settings. Dr. Muhadithah Al Hashemi, President of SEA and Chairperson of SPEA, opened the summit by presenting an overview of private schools' performance in Sharjah from 2018 to 2023.

The initial evaluation in 2018 presented a challenging picture: only 8% of private sector schools were rated as good or above, with a mere 4% achieving satisfactory scores in Arabic for native speakers. Furthermore, only 15% of students were receiving a good or higher level of education, paralleled by a similar percentage in trained and qualified teachers and school leaders.

Dr. Al Hashemi outlined the transformative journey embarked upon following these findings, driven by Sharjah's ruler's vision. The strategy for educational enhancement rested on five pillars: government support, continuous improvement, governance, capability building, and community partnership. This comprehensive approach has yielded significant advancements since its inception.

The 2023 evaluation showcased remarkable progress: a 70% improvement in the Itqan program since 2018. The proficiency in Arabic among native-speaking students surged from 4% to 59%. The proportion of students educated in high-quality schools rose dramatically from 15% to 61%, with parent satisfaction regarding teaching and learning quality reaching 84%. Additionally, confidence among parents about educational quality hit 90%, with an 86% rate achieved in the quality of students' lives index. Teacher training and development indices also saw a substantial rise from 15% to 70%.

Highlighting a 25% increase in private sector investment in education, Dr. Al Hashemi underscored growing confidence in Sharjah's educational sector. She also introduced the "Rise for the Teacher" initiative, designed to support teachers' well-being and professional growth.

The two-day summit features discussions with 60 speakers from 17 countries, delving into school improvement strategies, education technology, and AI's transformative role in education. The goal is to exchange best practices and insights for developing actionable educational frameworks.

With inputs from WAM