On
Sunday (September 2nd), nearly one million and a hundred thousand students from
public and private schools return to their schools, thus marking the start of
the academic year 2018/2019. This comes in the aftermath of extensive
preparations by the Ministry of Education during the past period, which aim at
achieving an optimal start for the new academic year in a manner that ensures
the stability of the school community and conducting the educational process smoothly
and easily in 616 public schools nationwide.
His Excellency Hussain Al
Hammadi, Minister of Education, congratulated the students, faculty members and
all cadres in the educational field, as well as parents of students on the
occasion of the new academic year. His Excellency called for intensified
efforts to move forward in the development of the educational system in the UAE
within the Emirati school, which requires the intensification and continuation
of efforts to meet the aspirations of UAE wise leadership related to education.
His Excellency praised UAE wise
leadership for its great attention and support to the education sector and its
keenness on ensuring a unique educational system in UAE, which meets the
requirements of its remarkable civilizational development and its ability to
meet future challenges through graduating generations of students possessing
the skills of their time and armed with the finest and the most established
knowledge base.
His Excellency pointed out
that the education system in the UAE has gone through several stages of
continuous development and improvement, which is reflected in the educational
outcomes of the Emirati school and is in line with the country's agenda and
plans for the transition to a knowledge-based economy founded on
well-established and modern principles that incorporate relevant best global
practices.
His Excellency explained
that the working teams at the Ministry of Education have completed all
preparations and arrangements that would provide an attractive and inclusive
educational environment for students at the beginning of the academic year, thus
ensuring that all requirements are provided to ensure that the students are armed
with motivation and passion in their new academic year.
His Excellency stressed the importance
of the strategic partnership between the Ministry of Education and parents
because of its pivotal and vital role in advancing the development of education
in the country, saying that concerted efforts and unified visions with parents
have a great impact on improving the educational environment in the Emirati
school.
On the other hand, Her
Excellency Jameela Salem Al Muhairi, Minister of State for Public Education
said that each academic year represents an opportunity to prepare competent
generations armed with the highest levels of sciences and skills in accordance
with the policies and programs of the Ministry of Education and its curricula,
educational and pedagogical content that reflects students' interests and
future directions and strategies of the UAE. She called on all components of
the educational field to show will and determination in continuing their important
educational mission, and to unleash their abilities in order to achieve the
desired results. Her Excellency also for
establishing a positive and competitive modern learning environment that
sharpens the skills of students and moves them to leading levels of knowledge.
In her special remarks on
the occasion of the start of the academic year 2018/2019, Her Excellency
stressed the pivotal role of teachers in achieving the Ministry's plans and
policies and translating them in the educational field through paying more
attention to developing different students' skills, whether scientific, mental
or behavioral. Her Excellency stressed that the student is the focus of the
process of developing the educational system in the country, and the target of
the Ministry's educational plans and programs, which include high values that
enshrine the students’ national identity and instill in them the values of
belonging to the homeland and pride in its culture and traditions.
The Ministry of Education worked
on preparing schools before the beginning of the academic year by developing a
comprehensive plan for the schools’ development, renovation and replacement. The
Ministry completed comprehensive renovations targeting 23 schools in
cooperation with the Ministry of Infrastructure Development. The Ministry also
prepared a plan to replace the old buildings, which do not comply with the
requirements of the Emirati school. The plan is based on reducing the number of
school buildings in a manner that does not interfere with the needs of the educational
areas. The Ministry replaced 4 schools due to their old construction age and
the lack of facilities required by the Emirati school curriculum. These were;
Salem Suhail Primary School for girls, Al Islah Primary School for boys and
Abdallah bin Omar primary School for boys.
The Ministry of Education
has also renovated 35 schools that are under 15 years; 3 schools in Abu Dhabi,
7 schools in the Al Ain area, 22 schools in Dubai Northern Emirates and 3 kindergartens
in the Northern Emirates with 35 schools. This is part of the Ministry’s
efforts to create a safe, stimulating and attractive environment for students.
The Ministry of Education
also ensured that the renovation and development plan includes all elements of
the building in terms of architectural, mechanical, electrical and sanitary aspects,
and also took into account the federal government's directions for the
application of sustainability standards and green buildings.
The renovation and development
criteria included several elements, including the development of the reception
hall, the main entrance, the development of the architectural facades, the
outer walls, the administrative rooms, the classrooms, better use and
redistribution of spaces, as well as creating a community library that serves
the members of the community, in addition to the development of laboratories
and school facilities, closing pathways and air-conditioning them and
developing landscapes and green areas.
The previously mentioned schools
are in addition to 40 other schools that the Ministry had completed their
renovation last year. In this context, the Ministry developed an integrated and
gradual plan for the renovation and development of all school buildings
throughout the UAE, in order to ensure the presence of a modern and integrated
learning environment.
In preparation for the
academic year, the Ministry of Education worked on developing the expertise of
its educational cadres through specialized training targeting 26,000 male and
female teachers, which took place a week before the students their attendance.
This training aimed to provide the Ministry of Education educational cadres
with all the tools they needed to prepare the students' study programs and
distribute the quotas to the teachers.
The Ministry of Education
recently launched “Our Schools are Our Responsibility” initiative, which
targets the Ministry's staff. In this context, the Ministry formed specialized
teams to follow up on the preparations of the schools and ensure that all
requirements are met before the start of the school year.
The first week of the school
year will witness a variety of activities under the "Marhaba
Madrasati" initiative, which is aimed at students and parents. This
initiative seeks to create at an attractive environment for students, enhancing
the spirit of belonging and loyalty to the school and developing positive
interaction between students and teachers.
03/09/2018
