ADEC: Abu Dhabi CEPA results improved by 20% over the last 5 years

Abu Dhabi: The Common Educational Proficiency Assessment (CEPA) results for Grade 12 Emirati public school students in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi significantly improved for the 2012/2013 academic school year compared to previous results in the past five years, according to Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC). The average score increased by 2% compared to the 2011/2012 school year, which signifies a leap from the steady increase of 0.3% over the past four years. In the school year 2012/2013, the average score has become 159, while it was 157 during the period between 2008 and 2012. Sitting for the CEPA exam, which covers English and Math, is a prerequisite for all Emirati students who plan to join public higher education institutions. Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, ADEC's Executive Director of School Operations, said that ADEC seeks to provide students with knowledge, skills and values necessary for securing access to more educational and career opportunities and committing to lifelong learning. "To allow quality educational opportunities and prepare students to successfully continue their higher education, ADEC is organising a series of Arabic, English and Math assessments," he added. ADEC's Strategic Plan focuses on helping students overcome challenges, while enabling them to join universities without the need to take any foundational programs. Students have been well prepared to take CEPA through increasing English periods to 10 per week and additional teaching hours of Arabic and Math have also been introduced in order to develop their bilingual and leadership skills. CEPA scores fall into four bands. Band 1 is for students scoring 180 and above; Band 2 for those between 165 and 179; Band 3 for those between 150 and 164; and Band 4 for those who achieve less than 150. Those classified in Band 4 will have to take foundational programs before they join higher education institutions. According to the CEPA result analysis for the 2012/2013 school year,5826 Emirati students took the exam; the results of 10% of those students fall under Band 1, marking an increase of 8% and 5% in 2011/2012 and 2008/2009 consecutively; 26% of students fall under Band 2, 37% under Band 3, and 27% under Band 4. In general, results showed increase in the numbers of students in Band 1 and Band 2, and decrease in Band 3 and 4. This reflects the extensive efforts that have been made to graduate students who are eligible to directly join universities. For the 2011/2012 school year, 24% of students were in Band 2, 38% in Band 3 and 29% in Band 4. The percentage of male students who fall under Band 1 in the school year 2012/2013 has risen to 9% from 8% in the previous year. Similarly, 11% of female students fall under Band 1 rising from 8%; 24% of scientific stream students fall under Band 1, compared to 19% in school year 2011/2012. Similarly, the percentage of literature stream students who made this achievement rose to 5% from 4% in the previous year. – Emirates News Agency, WAM