TAWASUL: Sharjah HCT connects with its community

They met with the college's director and representatives of the faculty, staff, and students.

Much of the discussion focused on the teaching of English and its importance for student success at the post-secondary level. The headmistresses expressed their concern about the lack of preparedness of high-school graduates in English. As one of them said, "English is the primary language of instruction in most colleges and universities in the country. Our students are at a great disadvantage compared with those who are attending private schools." The college agreed to host school teachers of English on a regular basis in an attempt to familiarize them with the standard of English proficiency required and so that there is a sharing of best practices.

Another issue that was discussed was the inadequacy of vocational guidance in the schools. "Students graduate with no clear understanding of the post-secondary options available to them, and no insight into their own vocational interests and aptitudes," said one of the headmistresses. The college offered to share with the schools an internationally-award winning career guidance program that was developed in-house for use with its own students.

A senior student concluded the meeting by sharing with the headmistresses her experiences in the college pointing out the differences between college and high-school in the areas of environment, teaching and learning methodology, extra-curricular activities, policies and expectations.

The event was organized under the college's TAWASUL (connections) Program that endeavors to establish linkages between the college and its main stakeholders: family, school, and community.

A similar meeting is scheduled for principals of the boys' high-schools at Sharjah Men's Higher College of Technology on March 13th.