United Arab Emirates 2009 Intel ISEF Ed Academy

2 Introductions UAE Team members –Ms. Moza Abdalla – Science Competition Administrator. Ministry of Education. –Mr. Adel Ali Youssef – Physics Supervisor - Science Competition Supervisor. Ministry of Education. –Tamer Shabana – Corporate Affairs Manager, GCC. Intel Corporation,

3 Educational Environment –UAE Population: 4.6 million out of which 2 million Local UAE Citizens –Number of K-12 public Schools: 1100 –Number of K-12 Students in Public Schools: 450,000 –Number of K-12 Teachers in Public Schools: 35,000 –Number of Schools connected to Internet: 25% –All Public Schools has at least one PC lab –Number of people using ISDN or Broadband:1 million households –Public schools for UAE citizens only.

4 Educational Environment MOE regulate the Educational System, with strong presence of Private schools. In the UAE, math and science education start as early as the first year of primary school, and their level of difficulty increases as years pass. National examinations – High school entrance examination replaced by yearly exams – University entrance examination Math and Science are taught until 9 th Grade. At the elementary level, science is focused on basic scientific rules.

5 Science Fairs Existing fairs: 7 Regional fairs are organized annually National contest organized for regional finalists Supported Programs: Secondary & High School Students International Scientific Exchange Fellowship Programs

6 Science Fairs Biggest obstacles: –Lack of sponsorship from the private sector –The MOE takes full responsibility without support from external organizations or the community –Inability of the students to execute their projects due to funding constraints –Project based learning teaching is still at it’s infancy in the UAE