8 dialogue sessions and training meetings amid broad participation from the educational community and academic experts during the Professional Development Week

Sharjah Private Education Authority concluded its Professional Development Week, which kicked off this year under the slogan "Towards Excellence" at the Sharjah Education Academy. The aim was to shed light on various issues related to the development of the education system, encompassing 8 dialogue sessions and training meetings. The event saw the participation of a select group of specialists and experts in the field of education, in addition to administrators and teachers.

The forum witnessed members of the educational authority and education development experts affiliated with the Sharjah Private Education Authority shedding light on a variety of topics related to enhancing performance and achieving excellence in the learning process. The topics discussed during the sessions were prepared according to the results of the ITQAN program.

Her Excellency Dr. Muhadditha Alhashimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Private Education Authority, emphasized that this event is part of the educational system development efforts. This week was designed to serve as a platform for specialists and experts in the education field to meet with administrators and teachers to discuss and exchange ideas on issues concerning the future of education. It also provided an opportunity for attendees to explore the latest developments and challenges facing the educational community. Her Excellency highlighted the organization of several training meetings aimed at developing the skills and competencies of the educational authority and providing a conducive environment for innovation and interaction.

She further added that the week witnessed the participation of a select group of specialists and experts in the field of education who shared their insightful experiences and visions for enhancing the education sector and raising the level of excellence. She affirmed SPEA’s commitment to continuous improvement and excellence goals in the field of education as a driver of progress and development.

Dialogue Sessions
The eight sessions were attended by approximately 500 individuals from the educational cadre, including directors, deputy directors from senior and middle management, heads of kindergarten departments in private schools, as well as educational staff and heads of Arabic language departments, and heads of various curriculum departments.

The focus of the week's sessions was on preparing schools and educational staff to receive inspection visits. The course begins at the end of the current January and continues until March 2024 in all private schools in Sharjah. SPEA organizes inspection visits to schools during this period to verify the implementation of the standards specified in the "ITQAN" program and to evaluate the extent to which schools have achieved those standards.

The first day of the week saw the organization of a session titled "Quality Student Protection, Care, Guidance, and Support." Dr. Mokhtar Bourchak, Education Development Consultant at the Sharjah Private Education Authority, spoke during the session, along with representatives from the International School of Creative Science in Muwaileh, Victoria International School, and Sharjah English School, sharing their experiences with the attendees. The second session titled "Preparation for the 2024 School Assessment" was conducted, with Suleiman Hamdan, School Development Consultant at the Sharjah Private Education Authority, along with the participation of American and Pakistani curriculum schools.

Second Day
The second day kicked off with a session titled "Kindergarten Curriculum - Phase One and Implementation Process," hosted by Dr. Bochra Kaddoura, an early childhood improvement specialist and nurseries at the Sharjah Private Education Authority. The session discussed the importance of the nursery stage for children as the first step in their educational journey, as well as the importance of building a friendly relationship with students.

Under the slogan "Quality Student Protection, Care, Guidance, and Support," the second session began, featuring Dr. Mokhtar Bourchak, Education Development Consultant at the Sharjah Private Education Authority. The session focused on the importance of protecting and caring for the child as part of improving well-being, as well as the need to provide necessary support to the educational authority, which will reflect on the students.

Third day
The third day began with a session titled "Distinguished Schools," hosted by Ms. Lynn Stanbridge, School Development Consultant at the Sharjah Private Education Authority, along with students from the Rosary School and Wesgreen International School to discuss their achievements in various school activities. The session also focused on integrating distinguished schools with schools that received lower ratings in the ITQAN program to exchange experiences and knowledge.

The second session was titled "Discussion of Data Collection and How It Is Used to Guide and Direct Planning in Schools," hosted by Ms.Shoua Fakhouri, a school development and improvement expert at the Sharjah Private Education Authority. The session addressed the importance of implementing state directives regarding green education, praising the commitment to the Green Schools project launched by SPEA last year. It also highlighted the importance of personal growth and self-discipline for students, as well as differentiated education, proposing several methods and practices to capture students' attention to education through four steps involving the product, method, process, content, and learning environment.

Fourth Day
The week concluded its activities with two sessions. The first was titled "Achieving Distinguished Education," during which Ms.Rana Nazzal, a school development and improvement expert in the Continuous Improvement Department at Sharjah Private Education Authority for Arabic language and its subjects, spoke. She affirmed that distinguished education is a right of students and ensures progress, stating that the formation of Lisan Aldhad Committee will begin next February.

The final session, titled "Preparation for Inspection Visits," addressed methods of distinguished education, with Mr. Johannes Bodenstein speaking. The speaker emphasized that part of this year's inspection will focus on schools' use of artificial intelligence in education.