Mariam Jumha Al Shamsi, principal of Al Salamah Bint Butti Secondary School For Girls in Bani Yas, tells Abu Dhabi Week what it’s like to run one of the largest public schools in Abu Dhabi

Mariam Jumha Al Shamsi, or Miss Mariam as she is more commonly known, has been working at Al Salamah Bint Butti Secondary School for 28 years now and has been the principal for 26.

Miss Mariam has encountered many changes during her time as principal, including the introduction of western teachers for the first time in September 2009. Miss Mariam readily adapted to such changes.

“It wasn’t really that strange to have these teachers come in. I welcomed them here because I knew it was part of the change process. The biggest change for me was that originally the Ministry of Education was in charge of education and then this gradually become ADEC’s responsibility. Nowadays ADEC is working to develop the education system within the UAE, implementing many new initiatives and new ways of doing things.”

Miss Mariam believes that in order to be a successful principal, one needs to care for the girls in the same way a parent would care.

“I feel like I am the mother of the students. I talk to them and advise them like they are my daughters. Actually I am the mother of five daughters and three sons; Mahra, Mazna, Majed, Mouth, Mosabi, Meera, Moodi and Moza.”

Here’s a typical day for Miss Mariam:

5am: It’s an early start for this principal as she begins her day by rising for morning prayers.

6.30am: The busy school day begins. “I arrive at school and read my e-mails and finish off any work left from the previous day. I check if any teachers are absent as cover needs to be organised.

“I meet the teachers as they arrive at school, usually they come in to say hello and to share any issues or problems that they have.”

7.50am: It’s time for morning assembly. “During the assembly one student reads from the Holy Qur’an while the other girls stand lined up in rows according to what class they are in. The girls stand to attention facing the UAE flag and then they recite the national anthem.

“After that I have a conversation with them. I give them advice about everything related to their life such as their behaviour, exams or hygiene for example. I remind them to wear their sheila, sometimes photos are taken during assembly which are sent to ADEC so it’s important that the girls have their hair covered.”

8.30am: Miss Mariam double checks the timetable to ensure that all classes are covered and deals with any last minute timetabling issues.

9am: The first of many daily meetings commences. “I meet with students, especially if they are not behaving. Sometimes I meet with parents to help tackle behavioural issues.

“I also meet with senior management to discuss school policy, procedures and the budget. These meetings can last up to two hours.
“When the bell rings to signal the end of a lesson, I monitor the corridors, prompting students to go to their next class quickly.”

11.30am: More meetings to attend. “I often meet with the school social workers to discuss individual students who are not doing well at school. I also talk to the learning support team who deal with special educational needs.”

12.30pm: Miss Mariam takes a 15 minute break to pray. “I don’t take a set lunch break, I usually eat during meetings but I always stop working for afternoon prayer.

“I am talented in designing documents on the computer. Staff members often give me documents and I remodel them so that they look good. I think it’s very important to present work nicely.”

3.20pm: School’s out for the day. “At the end of the day I have bus duty. I make sure that all of the students get on their buses to go home. I leave between 3.30 and 4pm. Sometimes when I’m leaving the girls are sitting outside not wearing their sheila so I will lecture them about this. I make sure that most of the students have gone home before I leave. If one or two girls remain then I tell the security guard Abdulrahman to keep an eye on them to ensure they are safe.”

6pm to 9pm: “My youngest child is in grade ten now, my children are not as reliant on me as before, so I have some free time to do school work in the evenings. I am a workaholic and often bring work home with me.”

10pm: Another busy day draws to a close, “I usually go to bed around 10pm or later.”

Final thoughts: “I love my job. It’s me! This job is a vocation and it was always my dream to be a principal.”

Catriona Doherty