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Star rating system for all govt entities in country
Star rating system for all govt entities in country (Wam) / 25 February 2014 Mohammed endorses rating of 75 bodies; 5-star rating for Justice Ministry His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has stressed that all service centres at ministries and federal institutions will comply with the Star Rating System. Shaikh mohammed bin rashid, Lt-general Shaikh Saif bin Zayed, Dr Hadef Jowan and top officials after unveiling the five-star plaque at the ministry of Justice office in abu Dhabi on monday. — Wam The classification of these centres would be from two stars to seven stars, according to the standards of provision of services to the private sector, Shaikh Mohammed said, noting that external auditors will participate in the rating process to ensure the neutrality of the evaluation panel. Shaikh Mohammed said the number of stars indicating the rating of a government centre would be displayed on plates outside the centre so that a client knows the level of service, adding that: “It is the right of every official to know the level of his/her services compared to the rest of the ministries.” The remarks were made during the launch of the results of the first phase of rating of 75 government centres assessed in accordance with the new Star Rating System. Three government service centres attained a five-star rating. Shaikh Mohammed also launched the first five-star plate in accordance with the new classification of the service centre in the office of the Ministry of Justice in Abu Dhabi. Some 33 government service centres were rated four stars, while another 39 centres were rated three stars. The assessment process will cover all the customer service centres in the federal agencies spread across the country by the end of 2014. Shaikh Mohammed said, “We stated before that we want the government service centres to be like hotels. And today as we start implementation, 5,000 employees have been trained on the new measures of rating. We have so far assessed 75 government centres. Our objective is to evaluate 400 government service centres in the next months.” The UAE government seeks to compete with the private sector to convey a message to all that the government service centres are innovative and hospitable, noting that “the essential part of the government service is the way to offer it. And the most important of all transactions is the satisfaction of clients”. Shaikh Mohammed underscored that the value of an employee lies in his/her service to the public. “This is our approach, vision and government method.” The rating of the government service in accordance with the Star Rating System is an Emirati experience launched by Emirati cadres. “We have asked them to stick to the world’s private sector standards when assessing the institutions. Our aim is to make the UAE one of the exporting countries regarding the best world practices in providing the government services,” he said. The project to evaluate the service centres launched by Shaikh Mohammed would achieve a quality shift in the efficiency of government services and elevate them to the international standards. The event was attended by Lt-General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs; Dr Hadef Jowan Al Dhahiri, Minister of Justice; Musbeh bin Rashid Al Fattan, Director of the Office of the Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; and Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director-General of Protocol and Hospitality, Dubai. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Confusion over KG1 admission age for kids prevails
Confusion over KG1 admission age for kids prevails Olivia Olarte-Ulherr / 25 February 2014 According to the new rules by the MoE the new admission age for KG1 should be four years, KG2 is five years and Grade 1 is six years. While the admission age for new students was already made clear to schools across the UAE, many private schools, however, are still waiting to hear from their respective education zones. “Till now we did not receive (a circular) from the Ministry of Education (MoE) and so we will inquire about this from the MoE. I know they already sent a letter to some areas,” said Said Al Najjar, principal of the Elite American Private School in Umm Al Quwain. Classes at the school are still ongoing and registration for the new academic year has yet to commence. The Elite currently accepts three year olds by September 15 for its KG1. “We are not registering (new students) yet. But once we receive the circular, we will apply the rule,” he affirmed. The Modern Indian School, Dibba Branch, has started accepting registration for their new academic year in April, but has yet to receive word from the Fujairah education zone if they need to abide by the new admission age of four years old for KG1. “We are accepting three years old for KG1 for now but we are still waiting. We didn’t receive any circular and we already inquired with the Fujairah education zone but they said they will get back to us,” said a school staff. The St Mary’s Catholic School, which offers the Indian and British curricula in Fujairah, also said they have not received any circular on this regard. “We have followed-up so many times with the MoE Fujairah but have received no circular, so we will go ahead as usual,” said Layla Mohammed, the Arabic secretary at the school. The school accepts 3.5 years for KG1. Its CBSE curriculum starts in April while classes at the British curriculum commences in September. According to the new rules by the MoE, which is now enforced in public and private schools in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman, the new admission age for KG1 (or Foundation Stage 2) should be four years, KG2 (or Year 1) is five years and Grade 1 (or Year 2) is six years. Students should reach the minimum age by the end of April for those joining the Bangladesh schools in January, by July 31 for Asian and Indian schools commencing classes in April and by December 31 for other curricula that starts their school year in September. The new admission age takes effect this 2014-2015 academic year. This applies only to new students and will not affect those currently studying. The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) confirmed last week that the new rules do not apply to private schools in Dubai and that “the minimum age is determined by each school/curricula.” According to Dr Haleemah Sadia, principal of the Indian International School Sharjah, her school has already registered new students prior to receiving the circular in January. “We have 150 admissions from the early registration but now we have stopped and are registering as per the new age criteria. We are now in the process of trying to get approval from the MoE for them (early admissions),” she told Khaleej Times. The school previously accepted three year olds for KG1. The Gulf Asian English School in Sharjah and the Indian School in Ras Al Khaimah also confirmed that its new admission age for KG1 is now four years by July 31. The Ajman Modern School, meanwhile, has already set its admission age at four years for KG1 and five years for KG2 by December 31. The American school previously accepted 3.3 years for KG1. Parents from across the country expressed their concern, especially those whose kids are affected by the cut-off. Anitta Joy, a mother from Abu Dhabi, said that her daughter will be four years by August 12, and just 12 days shy of the minimum admission age for the Indian school. Asiya Shaikh has applied at two schools in Ras Al Khaimah for her daughter but was denied admission as she did not reach the age requirement by 19 days while Lakshmi, from Sharjah, said that her daughter is a month less. All mothers are hoping to get special approval from their respective education zones. “This new rule has made a whole lot of mess and has put lot of parents under stress,” complained Lakshmi. Santhosh Joseph from Abu Dhabi is in the same boat. He has been told that his child is four days less than the minimum age requirement and should apply only next year as per the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) rule. “What can we do, we have to wait for one year as there is no chance. My wife and I are just worried that there is an age limit for KG1 and she will be overage at 4.7 years next year,” he pointed out. According to the Adec’s Private School and Quality Assurance (PSQA) sector, there is “no exemption” to the new age rule even if a child is a day short of the cut-off dates. It added that there is also no age ceiling for KG1 and that a child of 4.7 years can still enrol next year. Continuing students Swapna Edward’s son is finishing KG1 in India this March and she plans to bring him to Abu Dhabi to continue his studies. She approached the Indian schools here but was told that he is two months short for the KG2 admission age. “Many Indian schools informed us if the transfer is from India, the ‘new age rule’ will be followed, (but) if he is studying in the UAE, then they can consider. So I approached the Adec directly and got a positive reply that he can continue in KG2. They informed me that ‘there is no separate rule for transfer from India’,” Edward said. The Adec confirmed that once a child has a certificate showing he finished KG1, his studies will not be disturbed and he can continue his studies here similar to other continuing students, regardless of the age. In a circular sent to schools by the Adec in December 2013, it noted that the new enrolment ages do “not apply to any current or transferring students”. olivia@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
South American drug cartels target GCC
South American drug cartels target GCC Allan Jacob / 25 February 2014 Narco-terrorists have established routes through West Africa to emerging markets in the region and Asia. The death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman from suspected heroin overdose may have thrown the spotlight on drugs, but narco-terrorism is the larger concern for security agencies around the world, including the UAE and other GCC countries. A leading security expert has revealed that Latin American cartels entrenched in Africa are eyeing the GCC for supplying and trafficking in narcotics. They also seek to launder their dirty money from the drug trade in the region as the zero tax regime aids their operations. Narco-terrorism refers to the nexus between drug cartels, transnational criminal organisations and terrorist groups. “In the last 10 years, drug cartels from South America have increased their presence and operations in West Africa to secure the movement of drugs (mostly cocaine) to markets in Europe, and the emerging markets in Asia and the Middle East,” said Johan Obdola, President of the International Organisation for Security and Intelligence, which advises governments on how to tackle the scourge. Latin American drug cartels and terrorist groups, including Colombia’s Farc rebels, Mexican drug organisations like ‘Zetas’ and El Chapo Guzman are actively involved in Africa, mainly in West Africa. He said these cartels were hoping to establish themselves in the Middle East and Asia. “We are identifying the new routes that narco-terrorist groups are developing and operating between South America — specifically Brazil and Argentina — to the GCC region, mainly Qatar, with ramifications in the UAE,” said Obdola, a former Venezuelan police commissioner, who now lives in Canada. He said these organised groups were already in “their second stage of their operations”. They are keen to use the UAE as a hub for drug trafficking and money laundering. The bigger concern was that they were working on all fronts to establish a demand for their products in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, he said. “Colombia, Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. Currently, Mexico, El Salvador, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago are nations where well-organised narco-terrorist groups are developing their routes to the GCC region and Asia,” he said. Last week, Colonel Saeed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the UAE’s Federal Anti-Narcotics Agency in the Ministry of Interior, said 11 tonnes of narcotics were seized in 2013. The Ministry of Interior also said assets and money of those involved in the sale of drugs and associated with money laundering would be confiscated. There is no evidence that the banned Muslim Brotherhood is benefiting from the drugs trade, but Obdola added that Al Qaeda was spreading its tentacles in Latin America. “There are confirmed operatives in Brazil, Colombia and other nations, including some countries in Central America (Honduras and Mexico). Al Qaeda members are also doing business with Colombian drug cartels and the Farc rebels.” Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Hezbollah and other groups are increasingly active in Latin America and Mexico, and cocaine trade is a very important financial support. Obdola said the GCC and UAE have two main fronts in the fight against narco-terror emerging from Latin America via Africa, and from Afghanistan. “The narcotics industry, with the involvement of organised criminals, drug cartels and terrorist groups are establishing a strategically sound alliance for financial and even political gain,” he said. Latin American drug networks are structured for money laundering and local consumption of drugs based on demand. These cartels also have the discreet ability and financial heft to spark off corruption and infiltrate private corporates, and transport, logistics, and security units. Investments are made in real state, front businesses, transportation and other sectors as well. The UAE police and security agencies have done good work in the areas of enforcement and intelligence to counter the illegal drug trade. They are engaging with communities to gather local intelligence and are also working with agencies globally to provide the best response against the phenomenon. allan@khaleejtimes.com The Latin American connection Amira Agarib Security officials in the UAE have confirmed the South American link to narcotics smuggling and established crime in the region. Lieutenant-General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chairman of Police and Security in Dubai, speaking to Khaleej Times, said there has been an increase in drug-related activity from Latin America where traffickers exploit Africans and Asians, including women. According to Dubai Police statistics, there has been an increase in smuggling of cocaine and heroin from Latin America to Africa, GCC and other countries via the Dubai International Airport. The drugs haul represents 75 per cent of all drug seizures at Dubai Airports. “Drug traffickers not only break anti-drug laws but also laws governing financial institutions. It’s an established network where they rope in local criminals and anti-social elements — bribery and blackmailing are common in their modus operandi,” he said. Investigations have shown that drug traffickers are actively targeting countries facing political unrest to channel their illegal substances. He said youth unemployment has become a concern and many young people are taking to drugs to escape from their misery. “People are exploited because of their circumstances by these large cartels who use closer geographical locations, porous borders and lack of effective legislation to promote drugs.” “There is a relationship between international drug smuggling and the growth of money laundering which is then channelled into other nefarious activities,” Lt-Gen Khalfan said. He called it a vicious cycle where high demand for substances led to increased production which, in turn, creates more markets. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
