HH Sultan Al Qasimi launches initiative supporting Arabic education with smart technologies

Includes new program for learning in Arabic by Horouf Educational Publishing - subsidiary of Kalimat Publishing Group

Sharjah, 23 September 2013: Education in the emirate of Sharjah is taking a quantum leap forward with the launch of an integrated Arabic language educational system that will utilise smart technologies to enhance children's learning in Arabic language. Being launched by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, this first-of-its-kind initiative aims to support learning in Arabic by leveraging the latest technologies available in combination with purposely designed contemporary educational programmes.

The initiative will see all students and teachers in Sharjah's government schools receive tablets that have been equipped with a specially designed Arabic language educational package completely free of charge. The package includes new and innovative educational programmes in the Arabic language and training programmes for educators that have been prepared in collaboration with Kalimat Publishing Group.

The initiative will be implemented over the coming five years and the first phase of the scheme will run in the 2013/2014 school year. 5000 students and 250 teachers in kindergartens across the Emirate will be receiving tablets in the first phase alone.

Speaking about the initiative, His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Al Qasimi stressed that that human development and expanding the people of the Emirates' scientific and technological knowledge base, while preserving the UAE's Arab identity and culture, remain top priorities in the UAE. His Highness noted that knowledge development is a constantly evolving process  that requires a steadfast commitment to developing and adapting educational methods.

His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Al Qasimi, accompanied by by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and Founder and CEO of Kalimat Publishing Group, launched the initiative during a visit to the Kindergarten Development Centre in Khorfakkan, at which point the first tablets were distributed to the kindergarten's pupils. During the tour at the Centre, His Highness emphasised the importance of utilising and developing every possible resource to support the educational development of the Emirates' children on par with the highest international standards.

His Highness was accompanied by HE Dr Abdullah Al Suwaiji, Chairman of Sharjah Educational Board, HE Saeed Musabeh Al Kaabi, Director of Sharjah Educational Zone, and Asia Ali Ahmed, Director of Khorfakkan Kindergarten Development Centre - Eastern Region.

During the launch His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi stated, "The development that we seek in our educational system should not be not limited to simply developing programmes and methods, but must also include the development of the educational staff, parents, and the entire community." His Highness added, "The UAE's leadership firmly believes in the vital importance of developing education to the highest level in order to serve the interests of our nation and its citizens."

The scheme is one of the initiatives of His Highness Ruler of Sharjah, aimed at developing the educational field in Sharjah, preserving the Arabic language, and instilling a love of the Arabic language in the hearts of children by using simplified and modern educational methods. The scheme comes in response to the requirements of evolution in smart learning methods and will pave the way for the creation of a knowledge based society and contribute to improving the outcomes of education.

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi paid tribute to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah for the unlimited support he extends to students and education. She also praised his ceaseless commitment to strengthening the national identity of the coming generations as well as his unwavering support of the Arabic language and the development of its tools and outcomes.

Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi expressed her pride at having Kalimat Publishing Group selected to take part in the implementation of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Al Qasimi's initiative, which is the fruit of more than two years of work, design, and preparation. She affirmed that the initiative would contribute to developing the efficiency of the educational system by utilising the technological evolution in supporting tuition in Arabic. She emphasised that the program provides modern and appropriate educational programmes that have also been designed to stimulate analytic thinking that will enable students to access the required information and use it effectively - a vital skill in the information age.

Sheikha Bodour clarified: "The program being used on these tablets was developed by Horouf Educational Publishing, a subsidiary of Kalimat Publishing Group. At this point in time it has been designed to accommodate students at kindergarten level, with expansion through to the other educational stages planned to take place over the next few years. The package aims to support learning in Arabic through applications and subjects that are introduced in an intelligent, interactive, and informative format. The various elements of the package encourage the development of children's physical, intellectual and sensory skills through learning and give them freedom to move, search, and explore. The package focuses on combining education with fun and aims to help children to building balanced relationships with themselves, their surroundings, their teachers and society as a whole. Her Excellency said: "The current programme for the kindergarten category includes an E-books series that incorporate interactive stories, songs, games, and videos."

The initiative, in collaboration with Sharjah Educational Zone and Sharjah Educational Council, will adopt a gradual implementation strategy, starting with kindergartens then moving up to other educational stages to eventually include all students of government schools in Sharjah. Tablets along with the new and innovative Arabic language learning package produced by Horouf Educational Publishing, a subsidiary of Kalimat Publishing Group, will be distributed.

HE Dr Abdullah Al Suwaiji, Chairman of Sharjah Educational Board, said: "Education is the top concern of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, who has been striving to further strengthen the close relation between knowledge and development. The initiatives launched by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah in the last school year have contributed to comprehensive development in all aspects of education and learning in the emirate of Sharjah."

Al Suwaiji added that His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah directed the Sharjah Education Council since August 2011 to start working on the improvement of the school environment and educational standards in Sharjah model schools. Al Suwaiji emphasised that His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan continues to close follow up on every step of Sharjah's educational development and this initiative is consistent with his vision to upgrade the level of education in the Emirate.

HE Saeed Musabeh Al Kaabi, Director of Sharjah Educational Zone, said that this significant scheme would be the cornerstone in the transition to a new era of advancement in educational practices and the optimal use of technology in education in Sharjah. He added that smart learning has become one of the most important channels of knowledge, as it helps accelerating scientific progress. He added that smart education overlaps conventional education and has become public domain to all segments of society; making it an imperative need for all nations.

Al Kaabi pointed out that the world today is seeing accelerated technological development. Therefore, it is necessary for educational institutions to keep pace with this development and use it in the education and learning process, while maintaining the Arabic language. He stressed the importance of utilising educational technology in the Arabic language to aid the development of effective educational practices.

The Chairman of Sharjah Education Council and Director of Sharjah Educational Zone extended a message of thanks and appreciation to His Highness Ruler of Sharjah for the great efforts exerted for the education sector on behalf of themselves and the educational community in the Emirate.

Kalimat Publishing Group is overseeing the production and development of the initiative's educational programmes through its subsidiary Horouf Educational Publishing. Kalimat Publishing House, another subsidiary of Kalimat Publishing Group, is dedicated to publishing high quality Arabic children's books. The award-winning publisher is the first UAE publisher dedicated to children's books and was able through its publications not only to achieve its mission of producing high quality Arabic children's book and encouraging reading but also to attract international publishers. Kalimat Publishing Group is launching Horouf with the aim to deliver the same quality in schools across the country.

For more information please contact: 
Yousef Al Taweel 
Sahara Communications 
E-mail: yousuf@saharagcc.com 
Mobile: 050 556 25 20 
 
Fadia Daouk 
Sahara Communications  
E-mail:fadia@saharagcc.com 
Mobile: 050 538 39 73

© Press Release 2013