Photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

Hajar Khamis, Staff Reporter

His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, on Tuesday directed the Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA) to set two standards for private schools in the emirate regarding the maximum number of students per classroom and the number of classes a week for teachers. In accordance with these standards, the maximum number of students in each classroom must not be over 25 students, while the number of classes should not exceed 24 a week for a teacher.

The announcement was made by Hassan Ya’qoub Al Mansouri, during the “Direct Line” programme, which is broadcast live through Sharjah Radio. He said, “These standards will ease pressure on teachers and will allow students to better benefit from teachers inside classroom. Moreover, teachers will be more focusing as the number of students decreased.”

He continued, “This will help teachers to scrutinise personal skills of each student, re-explain and revise lessons, and scrutinise their homework.”

Schools in the UAE sprang back to life for the first day of the new academic year on Sunday. Institutions running under British, American and the Ministry of Education curriculums started a new academic year, while Indian and Pakistani schools resumed the second semester of the academic year.

Police officials were making all efforts to remove any hurdle that could lead to students’ delay in reaching schools.

It promises to be an exciting year ahead as GEMS Education, which runs the biggest network of schools in the UAE, introduces a host of innovative programmes and teaching methods that will expand the opportunities available to the 125,000 students enrolled across its 48 UAE schools, of which 18,000 are newly enrolled. In addition, some 1,800 new teachers have joined the network, each carefully picked for their individual expertise and talents, and collectively adding immeasurable value to not only GEMS Education schools, but also the country’s education sector as a whole.