The first licensed dedicated teacher training institute, the Tellal Institute (Teacher Learning and Leadership for All), has been launched in the UAE in partnership with GEMS Education.

The institute will provide a pioneering curriculum, including specialist routes in Early Years, Arabic and Special Educational Needs, for pre-service and in-service teachers in the UAE. Tellal will commence with a pilot programme using the unique context of the GEMS network of schools as sites of learning.

The Apprenticeship Teacher Training (ATT) Programme is aimed at supporting aspiring and existing teachers through a rigorous 10-month course available to all graduates.

Designed to mentor, stimulate and provoke change, the programme will help teachers develop and learn in real life school environments, a statement said.

Dr Linda Rush, vice president, Teacher Training, Tellal, said: “Tellal is a schools-led, schools-situated model of teacher learning which has proven to work very effectively elsewhere. Our conversations with education regulators in the UAE have shown how the apprenticeship model of teacher training has enormous potential for teachers here, especially Emirati teachers.”

“Promoting an environment in which there is a mutual interest of growth for both educators and students; an environment in which we build the global leaders of tomorrow is the need of the hour.

“As part of this innovative networked model of teacher training, tutors and mentors will be drawn from experienced GEMS teachers and from Tellal’s core and extended team. Through the use of relevant, cutting-edge technologies and simulation training teachers are exposed to a whole different world of learning which also prepares them for the classroom of the future,” added Dr Rush.

Tony Little, group chief education officer, GEMS Education, said: “There is a great need to recruit and retain good quality teachers so our students get the best quality education in the world. We also need to prepare them for higher education and for future jobs and this can come only if our teachers themselves are prepared.

“Through our partnership with Tellal we hope to further foster the passion and dedication of our teachers and those who aspire to join the GEMS Education schools. We believe Tellal will provide that dynamic leadership coaching that each educator brings to a classroom or the school – for teachers are the force of change.”

Applications for the Tellal pilot program opened earlier this year, and the course is scheduled to start in August. During the 10 months of training, teachers and educators will be immersed in a collaborative, engaging and challenging environment. Moreover candidates will have the chance to interact with the latest technologies.

The first batch of 160 graduate students will start classes in September. By next year, Tellal is hoping to reach out across all groups of schools across the Emirates in support of recruitment and training of teachers in this schools-led manner. – TradeArabia News Service