To paraphrase Nelson Mandela, education is the most powerful tool that you can use to change the world. Not only does education play a key role in eliminating gender inequality, reducing poverty and creating a sustainable planet within a knowledge economy, it is the currency used by nations to gauge competitiveness and advance prosperity.
Having said that, the current education system is based on the Industrial Revolution model. Back then, the idea was that everybody’s mind functions in a similar manner to retain information. However, after the Covid-19 pandemic, which gave rise to more complex social realities and new market dynamics, and in order to meet 21st century demands, more is needed out of an education.
A survey conducted by the Association of American Colleges and Universities found that only 55 per cent of students attending school feel prepared to enter the real world. According to the World Economic Forum’s report titled The Future of Jobs Report 2020, almost 60 per cent of future jobs haven’t yet been developed. On top of this, 40 per cent of nursery-age children in schools today will need to be self-employed to have any form of income. Hence, we need to prepare our children for jobs that may not exist at present but will shape the economy in the future. Building entrepreneurship skills today will make them successful tomorrow. Rather than being a genuine part of the process of education, students are often subject to the standard process of education.
One way to reimagine education is through the power of choice. Several studies have shown that empowering children in their own education journey leads to more engaged learning. Parents and educators can start giving children choices as early as they can. Be it the choice between an orange and an apple, or a blue shirt and a red one – choice gives children a chance to decide for themselves, independently.
However, parents and teachers also have to be mindful of how much is too much? Therefore, it is essential to understand the need for consistent and realistic choices. While choice is good, knowing how many options to offer is key, rather than not offering young people any choice at all.
The kind of choices you give need to be tailored to suit their age and level of understanding. It is also worth noting that one child might enjoy having the power of choice, while another may feel lost without support. This is where the education system needs to be customised based on each student’s learning ability and response mechanism.
40% of nursery-age children in schools today will need to be self-employed to have any form of income
Choice provides personalisation to different learning styles and accountability. To be effective, choice has to be embedded in the curriculum from the beginning. When cultivated from an early age, decisions made by the children themselves can foster a sense of belonging, independence and ownership in learning. As a result, the classroom becomes a space defined by the pupils. Much like adults, pupils feel valued when an experience interests and challenges them, and gives them a voice.
Notably, a 2014 study by Hanover Research titled ‘Impact of Student Choice and Personalised Learning’ showed that giving students choices made them active participants in their learning, which in turn boosted engagement levels. It noted that “practices that facilitate and emphasise student choice – both in terms of the student’s educational path and the curriculum that the student follows – are widely considered to have positive impacts on student motivation and participation, and, as a result, academic performance.” Thus, including choice as a crucial component and reimagining education to suit the way forward can help develop citizens of the future.
In a similar vein, education standardisation can also mean that teachers aren’t reaching their potential and their ideas aren’t being shared or heeded. Since they have the immense responsibility of shaping minds, extending to teachers this power of choice is equally important, if not more. This could include personalised professional development, valuing their expertise over set lessons and giving them free reign in classrooms. Deemed a learner-centric approach, increased teacher autonomy has a knock-on effect. It leads to positive academic outcomes including higher resourcefulness, enthusiasm and focus.
Governments around the world are exploring new education systems to future-proof the students of today for tomorrow. The UAE has already laid out plans to address this need through the UAE Centennial Plan 2071. The long-term plan extends to five decades after 2021 and will see investment in future generations, by preparing pupils with the skills and knowledge needed to face rapid global changes.
Given the forward-looking nature of the UAE's visionary leadership, the nation is on its way to bridge the gap between jobs of today and those that will be created tomorrow. Now is the time to seek new ways of thinking and encourage young citizens to cultivate the skills they will need for the future.
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, Group B
Barcelona v Inter Milan
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
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)
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
RESULTS
6.30pm: Emirates Holidays Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Lady Snazz, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
7.05pm: Arabian Adventures Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zhou Storm, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7.40pm: Emirates Skywards Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Rich And Famous, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.15pm: Emirates Airline Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Rio Angie, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Emirates Sky Cargo (TB) Dh 92,500 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Kinver Edge, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
9.15pm: Emirates.com (TB) Dh 95,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Firnas, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
RESULT
Huddersfield Town 1 Manchester City 2
Huddersfield: Otamendi (45' 1 og), van La Parra (red card 90' 6)
Man City: Agüero (47' pen), Sterling (84')
Man of the match: Christopher Schindler (Huddersfield Town)
What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
Other promotions
- Deliveroo will team up with Pineapple Express to offer customers near JLT a special treat: free banana caramel dessert with all orders on January 26
- Jones the Grocer will have their limited edition Australia Day menu available until the end of the month (January 31)
- Australian Vet in Abu Dhabi (with locations in Khalifa City A and Reem Island) will have a 15 per cent off all store items (excluding medications)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
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