Abu Dhabi: The Federal Agency for Early Education (FAEE) has introduced the Emirati Recruitment Initiative (ERI) with the goal of persuading the UAE citizens into the early education ecosystem, contributing to the development of this vital sector and enriching Emirati educational capabilities.
Citizens from all seven emirates are now eligible to apply, regardless of their academic or professional backgrounds, if they desire to work with young children in the early stages of their education.
Qualified Emirati candidates will be given the chance to work as teaching or classroom assistants in a variety of areas, including arts and culture, at public schools all around the nation from kindergarten through grade 4.
“Our national human capital is a key enabler in our goal of building a thriving and sustainable early education ecosystem. The critical building blocks of a child’s holistic development and social identity are laid during the early years of education, and Emirati teachers have a vital role to play in shaping our young students’ minds and instilling a strong sense of self within the context of our national identity, culture and values, we encourage potential applicants to explore a career in a sector where the real influence and impact come from educators whose role will support and enable our students to thrive academically, emotionally, and socially,” Ms. Sara Awadh Issa Musallam, Minister of State for Early Education, FAEE Chairman, and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) highlighted.
The ADEK Chairman further added that, “We encourage potential applicants to explore a career in a sector where the real influence and impact come from educators whose role will support and enable our students to thrive academically, emotionally, and socially.”
Speaking about the initiation of ERI, Ms. Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, remarked that the new recruitment initiative reflects the commitment of the UAE’s leadership to invest in developing national human capital and providing an enabling environment that encourages innovation and creativity across vital sectors.
The UAE Culture and Youth Minister elaborated that the initiative would help foster a new generation of Emirati educators to shape early education, which is the most critical and foundational stage for children to develop their personality and identity.
According to Ms. Al Kaabi, the program will aid in the development of a new generation of Emirati educators who will shape early education, the most crucial and foundational period for children to establish their personalities and identities.
The UAE Minister highlighted that the initiative complements broader national efforts to align educational and cultural ecosystems by integrating and enhancing the significance and range of cultural content through cutting-edge and contemporary tools, practices, and activities that will help students further develop their sense of national identity.
By bringing Emirati talent into the field of early education, this program assists in achieving these objectives, Ms. Al Kaabi shared.
In a two-day qualifying assessment that is part of the hiring process, candidates will work in teams of five to solve a case study challenge and present their solutions to a judging panel. Applicants will be graded on their comprehension of the problem, teamwork, applied research, quality of the suggested solution, presentation style and narrative, and ability to respond to panel questions.
Pathways
Qualified candidates will be given one of two paid training contracts. A bachelor’s degree holder will undergo nine months of training, the first 6 of which will be spent in the classroom conducting research and participating in field projects with the next 3 spent putting what they have learned into practice while being observed.
Qualified high school graduates who choose the second route go through a 6-month training program, the first half of which is spent in the classroom, followed by three months of practice under the supervision of classroom teachers. After receiving training, they are qualified to serve as teaching and classroom assistants.
Candidates in either pathway will receive a diploma upon project accomplishment that entitles them to accept a full-time position.