Distance teaching quality in POD centres

 Jamil Khan, Senior Reporter

The Ministry of Community Development has completed the evaluation process of the quality of distance teaching in the people of determination centres based on the “quality scale of distance education” which was prepared by the Department of Welfare & Rehabilitation of People of Determination targeting UAE government and private centers in the UAE.

Nasser Ismail, Assistant Undersecretary of Social Welfare at the Ministry of Community Development, said: “The results of the educational process for the 2020/2021 academic year are characterised by many achievements despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Community Development has benefited from the outcomes of the virtual education experience as well as the challenges facing people of determination and their parents during the pandemic in developing the virtual education system for them”.

He spoke about the development deliverables of the educational process in the people of determination centres and the successful reality methods and techniques used, launch of some digital programs such as “Khetta”, “my family with me” smart applications, in addition to the necessary technical support provided for parents, a set of guidelines and training programmes for the staff such as specialised training workshops on virtual education for people of determination; a virtual meeting guide for these categories, and other mentoring initiatives that have contributed to the success of the distance education plan in the people of determination centres.

Furthermore, Wafa Hamad Bin Sulaiman, Director of Welfare & Rehabilitation Department for People of Determination, elaborated that during the forthcoming phase, the quality and standards of distance education will be applied in non-government centres for people of determination, to ensure the effectiveness and quality of education provided for these categories.  

Wafa explained that according to the development initiatives on distance education during the current academic year, the results of the evaluation of the people of determination centres on the scale of quality of distance education are high and meet all required expectations.  The assessment grades obtained by the centres ranged from (87.1% to 95.6%) enabling them to achieve both excellence and leadership ranks in achieving the goals of the educational process as a whole thus at the same time fulfilling individual abilities and needs.