The world needs to break away from the traditional classroom culture for schools, and encourage students to explore non-traditional places like “museums, art galleries and libraries” for learning, a leading education expert has said.
Speaking at the Majlis Mohamed bin Zayed, global education adviser Prof Ger Graus said “our children are more than a test score” and insisted that “we should go beyond academics and seek insights from outside the classroom to provide [a] curriculum that incorporates creativity, progress and innovation”.
“We [must] realise that not all classrooms have four walls, and we [must] realise that museums and art galleries, our cultural heritage, are part of our education.”
In his lecture titled Reimagining Early Childhood Education, he appealed to the students “in every society” to embrace “the museum, the gallery and the library as your home, educationally as well as culturally”.
Prof Graus advocates a holistic approach to education that factors in a child's needs and abilities, rather than blindly following a one-size-fits-all schooling format.
“Educational systems must evolve beyond the industrial-age model of mass schooling and embrace the current era of personalisation and entrepreneurship,” he added.
Liam Cullinan, executive principal at Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi, echoed that sentiment.
“Every child has a gift, every child has a talent, every child has something really special to them," he said.
Mr Cullinan said schools and parents must work hand in hand, “looking at opportunities, working together and giving children a platform to use their knowledge to create change”.
Prof Graus, who is renowned for his work in developing educational programmes and strategies around the world, also underscored the strong partnership between schools and the parent community.
Breaking gender stereotypes
Talking about early childhood education, Prof Graus underlined how it goes on to determine future career choices.
Prof Graus, who was also the first global director of education at KidZania, said research showed that career aspirations are set by the age of four and remain largely unchanged through adolescence.
It also showed how children from disadvantaged backgrounds choose less aspirational roles due to their limited exposure to diverse career options.
This, he explained, is because adults often put children in boxes and “pass the parcel” as they move along various stages of education.
So children only grow within the parameters that the adults set and “can only aspire to what they know exists”.
The findings also showed gender stereotypes, with boys picking roles like pilots, while girls opted for cabin crew.
Girls were also seen to choose activities below their age range, while boys selected age-appropriate or older activities.
To break away from these limitations, he emphasised the need to broaden the early education model.
“When we talk about the growing and education of children, we need to think of the foundations and how we can make them as good as possible,” he added.
Designing games to teach concepts
Reem Al Falasi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, highlighted how children often find answers to their problems.
In a project in 2018 a group of children aged between 7 and 12 designed a video game aimed at highlighting the “dangers of the internet”.
The response was outstanding, she said, adding that it motivated them to “continue exploring innovative ways to teach children in a unique and fun way”.
“We need to remember that the purpose of education is that the mind, once enlightened, cannot again become dark,” Prof Graus added. “You cannot unread what you've read, and that surely has to be the most powerful aspect of education and schooling.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs%20
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ASHES FIXTURES
1st Test: Brisbane, Nov 23-27
2nd Test: Adelaide, Dec 2-6
3rd Test: Perth, Dec 14-18
4th Test: Melbourne, Dec 26-30
5th Test: Sydney, Jan 4-8
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
RESULT
Manchester United 1 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Man United: Dunk (66' og)
Man of the Match: Shane Duffy (Brighton)
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
The specs: 2018 Mazda CX-5
Price, base / as tested: Dh89,000 / Dh130,000
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder
Power: 188hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 251Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.1L / 100km
A Long Way Home by Peter Carey
Faber & Faber
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre flat-six twin-turbocharged
Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic
Power: 445bhp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh474,600
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The%20specs
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The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
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Profile of Tarabut Gateway
Founder: Abdulla Almoayed
Based: UAE
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 35
Sector: FinTech
Raised: $13 million
Backers: Berlin-based venture capital company Target Global, Kingsway, CE Ventures, Entrée Capital, Zamil Investment Group, Global Ventures, Almoayed Technologies and Mad’a Investment.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
AIDA%20RETURNS
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The specs: 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV
Price, base: Dh138,000 (estimate)
Engine: 60kWh battery
Transmission: Single-speed Electronic Precision Shift
Power: 204hp
Torque: 360Nm
Range: 520km (claimed)
MATCH DETAILS
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Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
CHELSEA'S NEXT FIVE GAMES
Mar 10: Norwich(A)
Mar 13: Newcastle(H)
Mar 16: Lille(A)
Mar 19: Middlesbrough(A)
Apr 2: Brentford(H)
MATCH INFO
World Cup qualifier
Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')
UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')
All%20We%20Imagine%20as%20Light
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Company%C2%A0profile
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