Sharjah Private Education Authority launched the second phase of the "ITQAN" program which is aimed at reviewing the quality of school performance during a ceremony. This ceremony was attended by Mr. Abdulla Almarzooqi an Educational Consultant at Sharjah Private Education Authority, and Ms. Aisha AlOwais, the program Director of ITQAN, along with several Department Managers within SPEA, evaluation and school improvement experts, and the executing company responsible for performance review visits. This was preceded by a preparatory session involving Principals of targeted private schools, in addition to the schools participating in the second phase of performance review visits.
SPEA presented to private school directors the methods of quality assurance procedures, as well as briefing them on the stages of the performance review process before, during, and after its completion. They were also introduced to the standards of school inspection and evaluation, in addition to classroom observations, interviews, examination of work samples, and review reports of school performance visits.
Mr. Abdulla Almarzooqi emphasized the importance of pre-implementation meetings for the stages of the "ITQAN" program, as they allow participants to express their opinions, proposals, and inquiries. He pointed out the significance of the program in achieving the goals and strategies of SPEA aimed at developing the educational system by enhancing the quality of private education and improving its tools. He stressed that launching the second phase of the "ITQAN" program reflects the solid commitment of SPEA to achieve the highest quality standards in private schools by enhancing positive aspects and improving performance in areas that need development.
Aisha AlOwais added that the "ITQAN" program represents a significant step towards improving the level of private education in Sharjah. It provides schools with an opportunity to enhance their performance and achieve excellence in their services, thereby reflecting positively on them as private institutions. She emphasized the importance of the program and its pivotal role in achieving sustainable academic outcomes, which SPEA and the private schools under its umbrella aspire to achieve.
The second phase of "ITQAN," which began this month, will continue until next March, involving weekly visits to 64 private schools in the Emirate of Sharjah, targeting 8 different curricula. The program includes advanced evaluation mechanisms, where the review team will conduct periodic classroom visits, review school documents, attend its activities, analyze the results of opinion surveys sent to students' parents in the form of questionnaires, and provide a comprehensive report identifying the school's level and strengths, as well as recommendations for improvement.
The "ITQAN" program distinguishes itself as a program that measures the quality of school performance in six main criteria: student achievement quality, personal and social development of students and innovation skills, quality of teaching and assessment processes, educational curriculum, quality of student protection and care, and provision of guidance and support to them, as well as the quality of school leadership and management. The results derived from the six performance criteria are provided according to a scale consisting of six levels: outstanding, very good, good, acceptable, weak, and very weak.
