Over 2,000 public school teachers from across the emirate were trained this year as part of a programme to enhance their teaching delivery and skills in keeping with the new school model, which in turn would improve student performance. Tamkeen (empowerment): The Empowering Educators programme by the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) was carried out from March till July this year covering 650 sessions. “Any attempts at school improvement will not succeed unless leaders and teachers successfully implement reforms in schools and classrooms. School leaders are receiving training to assist them in leading reform and teachers need training to support these goals in the classroom,” said Dr Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Adec Director-General. The three-year programme, which was launched in February 2012, was participated by 182 schools. An additional 66 schools are set to join the programme for the 2012-2013 academic year where over 5,000 teachers are expected to benefit. This year’s training included subjects on professional learning communities, teachers’ role in school improvement planning, the teacher evaluation process, data-driven decision making and using SMART targets. According to the Adec, all training materials are tied to competency standards and are benchmarked to international best practices. For the next school year, teachers will be trained on internet and computer technology, engaging boys, classroom management in the UAE culture, multiple intelligences and learning styles, student-centred learning, differentiation - special education needs, assessment for learning and instructional strategies for the new school model. From : Khalij