Scientists need exposure

Sharjah: Scientists need more media exposure if youths are to take up studies and subsequently careers in science and engineering to curb the shortage of those opting into science professions.

Professor Nidhal Guessoum, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) spoke at the Belief in Dialogue conference hosted by AUS last week. The conference was held in conjunction with the British Council.

"If we want people to pursue science we need to give the scientists more importance by at least some exposure," said Guessoum. "There is not enough regional interest in science and this is a societal issue that chooses to give some professions either big or small importance."

Societal issue

Guessoum added the emphasis the media and society places on celebrities and sports stars is what gears the aspirations of the majority of youths towards those professions.

"If I ask a class of students to name famous scientists the numbers don't compare to if I ask them to name footballers or entertainers," he said. "This is because they [footballer and entertainers] are constantly on TV and make big money and live the good life."

Scientists, in comparison, are not privy to any of these career perks.

"Scientists have none of this, they are never on TV, they don't live the good life and they don't get big salaries," said Guessoum. "So people think who wants to be like that." However science is and has always been central to a society and its people as it is the root of all of its developments.

"Science is central in the life and minds of societies and this has been the case forever," he said. "People need to realise that science is absolutely crucial for modern societies just as they were for old and past ones."

Teaching science in Muslim world

Contrary to scientific teaching principles in the West, Guessoum believes science and religion cannot be separated or segregated in university classrooms in the Muslim world.

"When I teach, especially astronomy, I will invariably have students bring in their religious knowledge and relate it to scientific principles," he said. "We find ourselves always having to deal with these things in this part of the world or the non-Western world, where long ago they established some sort of separation."

He added his students always seem to address the relation to what science says and what they have been told from their religious backgrounds and therefore establishing a direct relation between the two.

However, for science and religion to co-exist in the classroom, science clearly needs to be outlined and defined as a mere methodology of achieving results and not a belief system.

"Teaching science is to teach the methods by which we reach certain results so therefore by definition it is separate to religious studies," he said. "It is not necessary to reject one or the other but just distinguish the methodologies."

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Grey alert: Buy at your own risk

Dubai:  J. Singh, a visiting business executive from Muscat, was determined to get himself an IPad 2 in Dubai last week. He did the rounds of five electronics stores before he could get the 32GB 3G model he wanted.

Three of the five outlets told him the device, priced at Dh3,099, was out of stock. At the fourth, it was available for Dh3,700 with a display rider saying: "Best price not guaranteed". At the fifth store, where he eventually made the purchase, he paid Dh3,949. The machine came with a magnetic cover costing Dh349.

Ironically, only the first three outlets were authorised sellers of the product. The other two, both established electronic chains, were unauthorised channels.

Not all products bought from such unauthorised channels are fake but there's no guarantee they're original. Should there be any discrepancy, authorised service centres may not support the warranty or after-sales service.

"I wish I had known earlier. Now it is too late," rued Singh, who later found a list of the official channels for Apple products on the website of Arab Business Machine (ABM), their authorised distributor in the UAE.

Like him, thousands of consumers in the UAE could also be taken for a ride as they unknowingly buy from unauthorised channels, thanks to a booming grey market fuelled by free parallel imports.

"From being denied product warranties, after sales-services and inbuilt market specifications to risking manipulation of parts and accessories, even counterfeiting, there are many concerns that such customers grapple with," said Taj Kunwar Paul, Consultant at Cedar White Bradley, an intellectual property and information technology law firm in Dubai.

Yet, few consumers complain or even exercise their right to warranty (see box). "If something goes wrong with my mobile phone, I get it fixed at a local repair shop at Satwa, which in any case takes less time than an authorised service centre," said one customer, oblivious to the possibility that a machine bought at an unauthorised outlet could just be refurbished or even fake.

Onus on manufacturers

The onus of initiating action invariably lies with the manufacturer but as Paul said, international brands cannot move against grey market operators unless their authorised distributors are registered under the local agency law - Federal Law No 18 of 1981 concerning Organising Trade Agencies as amended by Federal Law No 14 of 1988.

She said many brands are reluctant to register agents because of perceived difficulties in rescinding on the agreement.

Peter Harradine, President, Swiss Business Council, said, "The agreement binds the manufacturer to the agents for a long time. We have seen some Swiss firms engaged in long legal battles to change their agents."

Manufacturers say it is an uphill task to gather evidence against the wrongdoing, file complaints and follow up the cases. The evidence often disappears from the shelves when there is a hint of action, said a senior executive of a popular electronics brand. "Moreover, the process of seeking redressal can be cumbersome and cost thousands of dollars."

The owner of Canadian company Vahn-Tech International which makes valves for water pipes alleged its trademark and brand were grossly violated when direct imports by another party resulted in blatant counterfeiting. Following a complaint, he alerted the authorities who conducted raids and seized 5,240 fake valves from Sharjah and Ajman.

The errant company was fined Dh7,000. "This is hardly a deterrent," said the Canadian brand owner who has also moved court.

Ram Buxani, Vice-President of The Electronics Group (TEG), estimates that the grey market is eating into 30 per cent of the sales of authorised distributors.

"Despite the best efforts of the authorities, grey goods could slip in because of Dubai's open borders," he said.

Until recently, TEG members were provided tags for every product to establish its genuineness. But the practice has been discontinued with a steep rise in quantities.

"The more popular the product and the brand, the greater are the chances of it going grey," said Buxani, who is also President of ITL Cosmos, the official distributor for several top electronics brands.

"Grey operators take advantage of the period before the official launch of a product in a given region. Their sales typically peak during this time," said Elias Abou Rustom, Vice President, Middle East, ABM.

Sources said by the time Apple released the IPad 1 in the Middle East in January this year, the grey market had already recorded sales of 5,000 pieces monthly.

"It all comes down to demand," said Mohan Jashanmal, Chairman Jashanmal, authorised distributors of several leading electronics and luxury brands.

Giving an example, he said the high demand for perfumes has created a huge grey market. "We have reported this to the Economic Department on several occasions," he said, adding that the Ministry of Economy has clear-cut laws to deal with such matters.

Closely linked with demand is the price of the products. "The grey market is driven by price differences," said Omar Shteiwi, former chairman of Brand Protection Group, noting that in a free trade economy like the UAE, there should be no exclusivity or monopoly in imports or exports as long as products comply with standards, norms and local regulations.

The so-called grey operators who source products from their own networks bring them in by paying the required customs duties. Many of them also procure international warranty and pass it on to consumers.

"The problem with grey is the inflated prices. Contrary to an authorised channel, they lack the expertise, certification or framework to provide after-sales support matching Apple products," said Abou Rustom.

The real danger, said Paul, lies in the scope for the product to be manipulated. Also, grey market items may not be stored appropriately or come without inbuilt market specifications or accessories. She said many products meant for the region have an inbuilt Arabic script which could well be missing in a product that is not brought in by an authorised agent. But there are cases when machines are tampered with as parallel importers engrave the scripts on their own.

"The best way to counter grey for an authorised channel is to keep prices competitive, continuously enhancing after-sales support, and ensuring high customer satisfaction at all times," said Abou Rustom.

 A fine of not less than Dh10,000 will apply if a product does not have a warning of the risks associated with using it. The court may direct that the product be confiscated or destroyed along with the equipment and raw materials used in its manufacture. Trading by any business that does not comply with the law can also be suspended for up to a week or even be permanently closed.

Consumer Rights

Before buying a product, consumers must educate themselves on who the authorised sellers are and insist on getting product warantees. The Department of Economic Development (DED) ensures consumer protection in Dubai under the Consumer Protection Law of 2006.

The law identifies three key consumer rights responsibilities:

* Understand product warrantees, guarantees, origin, storage, expiry and the method of use prior to making a purchase

* Request a receipt from seller and ensure the details on it are correct. Keep it for your records

* For products with extended lifespan, ensure that you understand the details of after-sale services and warrantees

In addition, the Trade Practices Law requires that suppliers display sale prices of goods, label them in Arabic, honour warranties, impose liability for damages and replace defective goods

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Humanitarian aid guide translated into Arabic

Abu Dhabi: While the UAE is among the leading countries in the GCC that provide aid and additional resources to help victims in crises, there is still much that can be done by the region's humanitarian and non-governmental organisations, a leading expert in humanitarian affairs told Gulf News.

"The UAE government has been a great source of help, not only in the translation of The Sphere Handbook, but also in providing translations for additional humanitarian documents and it is also a leading source for aid not only for victims in the region, but around the world as well," said Khalid Khalifa, Head of Office for the Coordination of the Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Integrated Regional Information Network (IRN) for Middle East and Asia Bureau.

Rwanda genocide

The handbook, which is among the most recognised guide on humanitarian services and crisis management, was first released in 1994 as a result of the difficulties faced by aid workers in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide. It cannot be applied legally, however, and humanitarian experts have called for applying it ethically.

"Because of the UAE's constant commitment to helping victims by providing aid and resources, one of the methods we use to ensure that our representatives are always up-to-date on the latest information and techniques, we are constantly organising training workshops so that Emiratis in the humanitarian sector can continue building their skills," Sultan Al Shamsi, Executive Director, UAE office for the Coordination of Foreign Aid (OCFA), said.

"The Arabic edition will also be distributed by western aid organisations and additional launches of it are being planned in July.One of the challenges we faced in translating it was ensuring that the Arabic phrases used were as clear as possible, as there are many different dialects in the region," Khalifa said.

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Dubai foils 44 attempts to smuggle in drugs

Dubai: Dubai Customs foiled 44 attempts to smuggle drugs in the first quarter of this year.

The announcement comes as Dubai Customs observes International Day against Drug Abuse Sunday.

As part of the Dubai Customs Department's strategy, the security and safety of the community is a priority, hence all the entry points into the emirate are protected to prevent the inflow of illicit substances, such as drugs and narcotics.

Ahmad Butti, Director General of Dubai Customs and CEO of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), said celebrating the day represents a chance to stress the graveness and dangers of illicit drug abuse, and the necessity of international cooperation to combat this problem which casts its shadows on people's health, the community structure, and the economic fate of countries all around the globe.

Trade hub

He added that the emirate has a strategic geographic location and is considered an important trade and finance hub in the region. Hence it is targeted by smugglers who falsely believe that the heavy trade traffic in the emirate will make it easier for them to smuggle in illicit substances through Dubai's airports and other entry checkpoints.

He said the Customs Department was successful in foiling 414 smuggling attempts in 2010 at the 19 air, sea and land entry points.

The narcotics seized included heroin, cocaine, marijuana, crystal, hashish and opium.

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Passenger's death delays flight from Dubai to Damascus

Abu Dhabi: A man's death on Emirates airline flight EK 913 to Damascus that was scheduled to depart from Dubai International Airport Tuesday afternoon caused the flight's delay, Emirates airline confirmed in a statement to Gulf News on Tuesday.

"Emirates confirms that a 66-year-old male passenger passed away after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest shortly before EK 913 departed from Dubai to Damascus," a spokesperson for the airline said. 

The passenger, who was of Syrian origin and whose name was not revealed by the airline, received emergency medical attention on board but died on the spot. 

"Emirates offers its condolences to the passenger's family and friends," the spokesperson added.  He also confirmed that Tuesday's flight EK 913 "departed (from Dubai International Airport) after a short delay at 5:45pm."

After the incident, the rest of the passengers on the three-and-a-half hour flight to the Syrian capital had to disembark and wait at Dubai International Airport's Terminal 3, according to K.W., a 33-year-old Syrian housewife on the flight.

"It was really sad what happened on the flight. The man, who appeared to be in his late 60s, was obviously experiencing some discomfort when the plane was taxiing on the runway before takeoff.

Call for help

"His wife called the crew for help and the plane was stopped to allow medics in. They carried him from the Economy to Business class of the plane and afterwards I heard one medic say the gentleman had no pulse," K.W. said.

"Although we received no official confirmation from the airline, most of the passengers were of the opinion that he died instantly," she added.

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Grieving man looks back at the killings that changed his life

Khor Fakkan: A man who came to the UAE more than 40 years ago says the grizzly murder of his two sons-in-law in 1992 changed his life forever.

Imam Bakash, from Pakistan, says he cannot go back home because he has to look after 12 orphaned grandchildren.

He works at a small garments shop in Khor Fakkan's old souq area, and as he recalled the tragic incident that changed his life he could not hold back the tears.

Around 19 years ago, Bakash owned three shops including one exchange house, where the salaries of government employees were transferred. The exchange house was near the current garments shop. He managed the shops with the help of his relatives including his brother-in-law and his two sons-in-law.

"In October this year, 19 years will have been passed since the tragic incident that changed my life. The brutal murders of my relatives has left a life-long scar and I [have] not recovered from it yet," he said wiping away his tears.

Brutal murder

According to records, on October 20, 1992, the brutal murder of three men shook the quiet city of Khor Fakkan. The three men were Bakash's relatives. His two sons-in-law and another relative were killed, while his brother-in-law escaped with serious injuries.

Click on the links below to read the archive articles

Three murdered, three arrested
'I was shot in the neck, chest and kicked down a valley'
Death term for three in Dhaid shooting upheld

"The four of them used to help me with the exchange shop and we used to take the money to our home at the end of the day to keep it in the safe. They had left before me as I was praying. When I arrived home and did not find them, I felt there was something wrong and informed the police," Bakash said.

Bakash said his relatives had been carrying Dh500,000. Court papers recorded the victims were carrying around Dh350,000 of various currencies.

According to the details of the incident, two policemen and a third person carried out a cold-blooded attack on the four men near Al Dhaid desert, killing three of them and severely injuring the fourth man for the money they were carrying.

The murderers were arrested, tried and later on executed for their crime.

Bakash was left without the support of his relatives and with 12 orphan grandchildren.

Dilemma

"My family used to live with me here, but after the incident, it became difficult for me to support my family financially and I had to send them back home to Pakistan.

"After the court case finished, I received Dh350,000 out of the Dh500,000 as a compensation. I am still waiting for Dh150,000 although I know I will not get it, especially that the [criminals] have been executed and got their punishment," he said.

He said all he wants now is to go back to his family.

"I want to go back, but I do not have enough money to support 20 hungry mouths, including 12 orphans. I do not want to go back to them empty handed, but at this age, I cannot do much to make money. I pray that my suffering will end soon and I will be able to reunite with my family in Pakistan," he said.

Murder for money

In October, 1992, two policemen travelling in a patrol car, stopped the victims near their house in Khor Fakkan and ordered them to follow their car, claiming they were wanted by Sharjah Police.

Another man travelled with the victims in their car which followed the police toward Al Dhaid. The victims' car broke down near Al Siji Roundabout near Masafi village.

The victims were transferred to the police car and their hands were tied with ropes. When one of the victims tried to resist, the killers stopped the car, shot all of the men and kicked their bodies down a valley. One of the victims managed to survive.

According to records, the murderers had planned the crime three months before carrying it out and had monitored the victims and the exchange house from a nearby restaurant.

In September, 1993, all three were executed.

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Scholarship scheme set up for Pakistani students

Dubai: A Dubai-based university established by the late Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto has announced an offer of 80 scholarships to Pakistani students who cannot afford to attend university.

"This is a birthday gift from our university for the Pakistani community in the UAE," said Dr Fiaz M. Ishaq, head of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute for Science and Technology (SZABIST) — based in Dubai International Academic City.

He was speaking at a function organised by the university to mark the 58th birthday of Benazir Bhutto, who was the founding chancellor of the university and established its off-shore campus in Dubai in 2003.

Dr Ishaq said that some 20 scholarships would be given to Pakistani students in Pakistani schools in the UAE who pass their higher secondary school exams. Every year 20 more scholarships will be added and a total of 80 students will get scholarships within four years.

Fund committee

"[The] university will waive 25 per cent of the tuition fee while some 50 per cent [of the] fee will be paid from the scholarship fund to be established by the university whereas 25 per cent fee will be paid by the student," he explained.

The scholarship fund committee will comprise members of the university, Pakistani schools, Pakistani missions and prominent community members.

"Our aim is to help provide higher education to poor students who cannot afford to continue their studies and forced to quit education," Dr Ishaq said.

He said the university would also provide vocational and skilled training to poor students after high school.

"We will help them get jobs and will also help them get their degrees studying as part time students," he added.

The university's community initiative was well received by Pakistan Ambassador Jameel Ahmad Khan and the community members who attended the function.

"We are ready to support the university for the noble cause," said Khan.

Earlier, rich tribute was paid to Benazir Bhutto, who was born on June 21, 1953 and assassinated on December 27, 2007 during an election campaign in Pakistan.

Supporters of Bhutto from all over the UAE gathered to offer prayers in her memory. Many were in tears as they recounted instances of their interaction with Bhutto during her eight years self-exile in Dubai.

Brave leader

"She was a brave leader and was symbol of hope and struggle," said Ambassador Khan who also recited one of Bhutto's favourite poems. Mein Baghi Houn, Mein Baghi Houn (I am revolutionary).

On a different note, supporters of Bhutto such as Chaudhry Zafar Iqbal demanded that the Pakistan government track down the murderers of Bhutto.

"It is very disappoint[ing] for us that our government has not yet arrested those involved in our leader's murder," he said.

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Fake dollars found in woman's bag

Dubai: Customs officials yesterday foiled an attempt to smuggle $56,500 (Dh206,000) in counterfeit dollars through Dubai International Airport.

A woman was found with the notes, made of black carbon paper, in her bag.

She confessed that she was looking to buy a chemical substance that would give the notes a more authentic look.

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Dubai parents, schools urged to report drug abuse

Dubai: Schools can play a major role in spreading awareness against drug abuse among school children and youth, a Dubai Police officer has said.

"We expect schools to cooperate by reporting any suspected cases of drug abuse among students or if anyone is attempting to promote narcotics among them by calling toll-free number 800400400," said Major General Abdul Jalil Mahdi, Head of Dubai Police's Anti-Narcotics Department.

"Our main concern right now is narcotic pills which a school child may receive for free once or twice, and once he becomes addicted he would have to pay for them," Maj. Gen. Mahdi said, adding that sometimes these pills are passed on from one student to the other, or given to them by drug dealers.

"We always stress that we need the cooperation of families and we ask parents to monitor their children and report any suspicious change in behaviour or habits, which may indicate that the child is using a prohibited drug," he said.

Target

"When a family reports that their child is taking drugs, we take care of the youngster and treat them, but we also go after the dealer who sold him the drugs, which is our main target," he said.

"After the treatment is completed, we ask the recovering addict to start a new life and not look back, and to get busy in sports and other activities that occupy their time and absorb their energy," he added.

Maj. Gen. Mahdi highlighted the role of sports clubs which can educate the youth and more importantly, keep them off the roads and away from bad company. "We also benefit from them and their ideas and seek their contribution to develop our work," he said, adding that he was satisfied with the awareness campaigns that helped achieve a positive change among the public.

Maj. Gen. Mahdi was speaking from the anti-drug awareness tent organised by the Anti-Narcotics Department at Mamzar Beach, which hosts a three-day exhibition, cultural and sports activities, as well as free medical tests.

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Reaching out to African students

Dubai: An old Arabic proverb says if you educate a woman, you educate an entire nation. It is a saying the Al Maktoum Foundation has taken as a fundamental principle for its work.

Over the years the foundation has built, and operates, nearly 40 schools in Africa. It is at one of these schools tucked away in a rural town in Kenya that a small group of Emirati students from Zayed University (ZU) found their calling.

Fatima Al Sayegh, Khadija Al Abbas and Arwa Al Mazroui's lives changed when their capstone graduation project landed them at a girl's school in the Kenyan town of Kajiado. Their project is Al Bedayah (Arabic for ‘the beginning') and the idea is to promote self-learning through the social media.

Their proposal was to create a website to essentially be a social media portal for self-education, on which they would tutor students in Africa. Their idea was such a hit they received the sponsorship and backing of the Al Maktoum Foundation, which exists under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance.

"The notion that students here in the UAE would help other students in Africa learn about social media was a powerful proposition," said project supervisor, Dr Badran Badra, Professor of Communication and Media Sciences at ZU. "However, I wasn't totally surprised to see an idea like Al Bedaya because of the UAE's strong tradition of helping other nations."

Tapping the global village

He added it was therefore not unusual to see Emirate students looking to other countries and societies to extend their humanitarian work.

Al Bedaya is a website that incorporates different free online tools such as Google and Wikipedia, with the aim of promoting self-education. However, the idea stemmed from the students' own learning experience at university. "As university students, we believe most of the knowledge we've retained through the years is information we sought out on our own through our investigative research," said Fatima. "We therefore believe self-education is the best kind and as the saying goes: a formal education will make you a living, but self-education will make you a fortune."

The website www.al-bedaya.org is split into three parts: lessons, research and fun. During their eight-day trip to Kenya the ZU students tutored over 40 female students. The students learned how to access free education web tools such as BBC Learning in order to quench their thirst for knowledge.

"The website essentially teaches how to use Google and social networking sites because of the vast amounts of news we get on Twitter for example," said Fatima. "The tutorial includes blogs and sites like YouTube and most useful Web2.0 user-generated interaction sites to bring the global village to the tip of the students' fingers."

Changing perspectives

Mohammad Bin Ganem, Secretary General of the Al Maktoum Foundation, said an initiative like Al Bedaya has a reciprocal benefit for both sets of students.

"It is important for our country's young women to know other civilisations around them and see how they suffer and struggle to survive," said Bin Ganem. "In our country, the UAE, the youth take everything for granted and therefore if they see the realities of life in other nations their perspectives will change."

Fatima affirms Bin Ganem's opinion as the recent public relations and advertising graduate believes she has found her calling in Al Bedaya. "I never thought my capstone project would be what I'd want to do for a living but it is," she said. "It's not something I expect to find a profit from because it's more personal, but right now we are exhausting all our efforts to keep Al Bedaya alive."

The recent ZU graduates are in talks with the Al Maktoum Foundation to continue the project in more of the foundation's African schools. This initiative not only educates African students to equip them for the development of their nations but to serve as an example for African women.

"When we asked some of the girls if they think they can have an impact on their society they weren't very positive; because in their culture a woman's place is in the kitchen," said Fatima.

"[But] as Emirati women we were an example to them because years ago, in a culture with similar views as theirs; no one would have thought we'd now see women taking up active and powerful roles in our society."

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Awareness drive helps cut pedestrian deaths in Dubai

Dubai: Pedestrian death toll continues to decline on Dubai roads, with a 35 per cent drop in fatalities during the first three months this year as compared to last year, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced Tuesday.

Statistics show a huge improvement in pedestrian safety over the years, Hussain Al Banna, director of Traffic at the RTA's Traffic and Roads Agency said.

During the first three months of this year, 11 pedestrian fatalities were recorded as compared to 17 during the same period last year, he said.

Over 67 per cent of the accidents took place in the night, Al Banna said.

Further drop

"We will continue with our awareness efforts this year and expect a further drop in pedestrian fatalities; which already dropped from 78 cases in 2009 to 43 in 2010."

Last year, the pedestrians killed in traffic accidents hit a record low in a decade with 2.8 cases per 100,000 of population. In 2001, five cases were recorded per 100,000 of the population.

The number climbed steadily going from 6.8 in 2004 to an all time high of 9.5 in 2009. The number has been dropping since 2009.

In 2008, seven cases were recorded and 4.4 cases in 2009.

Positive trend

Al Banna attributed the positive trend to awareness campaigns organised by RTA to enhance pedestrian safety, particularly among workers, as well as the building of foot bridges across the city.

"The awareness campaign carried out by the RTA this year started off at the workers' accommodation at Sonapur and covered Al Quoz, Jebel Ali, Al Barsha, Al Ghusais schools complex and RTA customer service centres."

Be attentive

It focused on educating workers on the importance of being attentive and making sure the road is clear of traffic before crossing the road.

Earlier, the RTA had identified seven areas where the most number of accidents involving pedestrians took place — including Al Quoz, Al Wasl, and the service roads of Shaikh Zayed Road.

But this year, so far, the accidents were not concentrated in certain areas, but rather spread out.

"RTA has been successful in reducing the number of fatalities caused by traffic accidents during the last three years, and the situation improved year after year.

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Schools with good leadership produce excellent students

Dubai: The success or failure of a school depends, to a large extent, on the leadership of the school, a school leadership expert said Wednesday.

"Teachers make the biggest difference in the improvement of any school and the leadership of the school is the second biggest factor for improvement," Geoff Southworth, a UK-based school leadership expert told a workshop organised for public school teachers by the Regional Centre for Education Planning (RCEP).

"In the United Kingdom, 20 years of school inspection have shown that [for] every 100 schools with good leadership, about 93 will have a good standard of education. On the contrary, for every 100 schools with poor leadership, only one will have good standard of education," he said.

The workshop, which was held at the University City of Sharjah yesterday, was organised by RCEP in association with Unesco and the UAE Ministry of Education.

Hotly-debated topic

While school leadership is a hotly-debated topic among the teaching fraternity worldwide, there is growing consensus on the nature and practice of effective school leadership, Southworth said.

According to a document published in 2008 by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, effective school leadership policies include the clear definition of the role of leaders, the need to encourage and support more leaders, and measures to development of capabilities. It also includes measures highlighting school leadership as an attractive profession and the recruitment of effective leaders.

"If teachers and [the] leadership of a school are improved, then there will be huge improvement, which can further be bettered by engaging parents in the process," Southworth said.

Extensive research

The UK-based expert bases his comments on extensive research and teaching experience, apart from various studies conducted worldwide.

Southworth's findings are synchronous with the findings of school inspections in Dubai by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

Earlier this month, while announcing the inspection results of public schools, Jameela Al Muhairi, head of the Dubai School Inspection Bureau at the KHDA, said that the leadership of the school and a desire to improve were the only reasons why many schools overcame hurdles and showed improvement.

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Doctor campaigns for more help for smokers

Dubai: The chemicals that cling to a smoker's hair and clothes can still harm a child even if the smoker does not indulge in the habit at home, a doctor has warned.

Dr Sreekumar Sreedharan, a specialist physician at Aster Medical Centre said ‘third-hand smoke' was harmful to children as they hug their smoking parent.

"We get a number of children suffering from various respiratory problems, and a smoker in the family is the big factor," he said.

The toxins in the smoker's clothes is called ‘environmental smoke' and the chemicals are linked to various problems in a child such as poor cognitive performance in school, behavioural problems and other conditions.

No substitute

"Nicotine is unique, there is no substitute for it," said the doctor, explaining how it stimulates the brain and at the same time relaxes the smoker. "That is why we give nicotine patches or gum to reduce the addiction, we do not have anything else which gives this at the same time," he said.

Nicotine enters the blood stream within seconds and within two hours its effects vanish. "That is why you need to smoke again and again," said the doctor.

The doctor said quitting smoking was the hardest thing to do. "You need counselling, you need support from friends and you need to have very strong will power." He suggested people find a smoker who has quit to help them in the fight against tobacco.

Ignorance is amazing

Dr Sreedharan believes media plays a great part in conveying the message that smoking is harmful. He said it was amazing people were still not aware that smoking had such terrible effects.

He called on authorities to spread the message through television adverts. He also called for a counselling group to help smokers quit.

Smokers are fooling themselves by believing smoking fights obesity, and that it helps concentration. "The only thing smoking is good for is that it prevents old age,'" said the doctor. "You die before your time."

Kicking the habit

The Gulf News campaign to help its readers quit smoking started on May 31. It is being supported by DM HealthCare.

Ten readers have been initially chosen to get help to quit smoking. Doctors will counsel and aid them over the next six months and up to a year.

The ‘quitters' have one thing in common — they wish to give up but cannot do it alone.

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