Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, has urged Emiratis to send their children to government schools.
In an address to this week's two-day government meeting of 500 senior officials, he expressed his full confidence in the quality of the UAE education system and revealed that he sends his children to a public school.
“It may be a hard question, but how many of you are ready to send your children to government schools today?” Sheikh Abdullah said in his speech in Arabic.
What I do not accept for my children’s education I will not accept for the education of the people of the UAE
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed
“In the year of the foundation of the federation, we had less than 33,000 pupils across the country and the number of schools was only 74.
“Today we have 1,404 government and private schools. We have reached 23 different curriculums, including our national curriculum.
“Today, I, like many citizens, reached a conviction that our children should be in government schools. I was committed to that.
“I will follow up on the progress of my children with full details.
“What I do not accept for my children’s education I will not accept for the education of the people of the UAE.”
In May, the UAE announced a shake-up at the Ministry of Education with new ministers chosen to improve education at all levels.
They were given the task of setting out structural changes across the system, with an increased focus on improving state schools and early childhood development.
The following month, they set out a plan to overhaul government-run schools, with investment in teachers and more parental involvement in how children are taught.
The ministers said there would be a renewed focus on maths and science taught in English from a young age.
Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Future Technology, said the ultimate aim was that the changes benefit every pupil in public schools across the country.
Earlier this week, President Sheikh Mohamed told the meetings of senior officials in Abu Dhabi that education remains a key priority for the UAE.
“Today at the UAE Government Annual Meetings I attended a session discussing the future of education, which remains one of our key strategic priorities,” said Sheikh Mohamed in a tweet.
“By harnessing innovation and investing in our people, the UAE’s journey of progress will continue.”
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, revealed that the sessions had mapped out a clear plan for the future of education.
“My brother Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witnessed today a part of the annual meetings of the UAE government. The education sessions with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and ministers were clear [and] transparent and they drew up an integral map for the education system,” said Sheikh Mohammed.
“Education will remain a priority in the vision of the President of the country, with the efforts of a specialised government team and with an active and interactive educational field and with a society of parents who contribute to bringing up a generation that takes us to new future horizons.”
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Company profile
Name: One Good Thing
Founders: Bridgett Lau and Micheal Cooke
Based in: Dubai
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 5 employees
Stage: Looking for seed funding
Investors: Self-funded and seeking external investors
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
THE%20HOLDOVERS
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The specs: 2018 Jaguar F-Type Convertible
Price, base / as tested: Dh283,080 / Dh318,465
Engine: 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 295hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 1,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.2L / 100km
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
BRIEF SCORES:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Apple%20Mac%20through%20the%20years
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UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The five pillars of Islam
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
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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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Company%20profile
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