Mathematics Teachers’ Perceptions of Teaching Gifted and Talented Learners in General Education Classrooms in the UAE

Abstract

Gifted education has received more attention all over the world, including UAE, because of its significant contribution in economic investment. This quantitative study aimed to describe and analyze mathematics teacher perceptions toward teaching gifted learners in general education classrooms in the UAE. The survey consisted of 19 statements on a 5- point Likert scale. The survey conducted among 66 teachers. Survey results were analyzed based on two factors: teacher competency and perceptions about the effectiveness of gifted learner programs. The results showed general positive attitudes toward gifted education. More specifically, teachers showed positive perceptions toward their competency to teach gifted students, while they mostly held negative perceptions regarding the effectiveness of gifted programs. In addition, teaching level (cycle1, cycle2, cycle3) impacts teacher perceptions regarding their competency to teach gifted students and the applied gifted programs in their schools. However, more research is needed as this study was limited to Al Ain city teachers.