- H.E. Humaid Mohamed Obeid al Qatami, UAE Minister of Education, attends inaugural award ceremony held in Dubai
- 500 people including students, educators, partners, members of the executive committee and educational zone management members
Dubai, UAE - May 13, 2014: Mohammed Bin Rashid's Smart Learning Program (MBRSLP) celebrated the successful completion of the first phase of the program today,after 1 year of implementation in UAE's public schools, with an inaugural award ceremony held at the Ritz Carlton in DIFC. MBRSLP marked the momentous occasion by acknowledging the contributions of its stakeholders at the event attended by dignitariesincluding H.E. Humaid Mohamed Obeid al Qatami, UAE Minister of Education, as well as representatives from the Higher Committee Members, Executive Committee and Educational Zones.
The ceremony attended by500 guests, was organised to honour program devotees who have pushed the boundaries of the UAE's educational system through technology in order to deliver innovative and effective learning experiences to students in public schools. The winners were shortlistedinto several categories including Stakeholders, Partners, Schools, Educational Zone Management, Executive Committee, Best MBRSLP Practice and Innovation Fund for 2015.
H.E. Humaid Mohamed Obeid al Qatami, UAE Minister of Education commented, "MBRSLP is an incredible initiative intended to transform the UAE's education system with new technology tools to be used by students and educator and together with our partners, we have seen what a compelling force we can be with each playing an integral role."
Commenting at the event, Mohammed Gheyath, MBRSLP's Director General stated, "It amazes me how much the Mohammed Bin Rashid's Smart Learning Program has achieved since its inception. All in all, we now have 123 participating schools with 11,402 students across the UAE. The awards demonstratethe ongoing progress of the MBRSLP and the positive response we have received from all our partners and participating students. Our partners are committed to elevate the UAE's educationsystem to international standards and our students are taking the learning process into their own hands. As we embark on Phase II of the program, it is important to acknowledge and reward all those who have supported and will continue to support the initiative."
The judging panel included representatives from the Prime Minister's Office, Ministry of Education, independent academic consultants, the Program's strategic partners as well as the general public.
The 2014 Mohammed Bin Rashid's Smart Learning Program Award winners are:
Best School Leadership Practice: Al Mzayree Basic & Secondary for Girls
Best Teacher Practice: Al Nawf Secondary for Girls
Best Student Practice: Al Shafeyi Basic for Boys
People's Choice Award: Al Fujairah Basic & Secondary for Girls
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About the Mohammed bin Rashid Smart Learning Program
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program is an enabler that will transform the education system in the UAE and take it to higher levels where it can be benchmarked against best international standards.
The Program is aligned with the vision of the Ministry of Education and supports its ongoing reform process to continuously evolve the education system in the UAE.Furthermore, the Program is aligned with UAE's 2021 vision for inclusion of all students and parents in the preparation of the leaders of the future.
The Program was formed by ministerial decree No. 25 of 2012 which also provided for the formation of a Supreme Committee to overlook the Program under the chairmanship of H.E. Humaid Mohamed Al Qutami, Minister of Education, and the membership of H.E. Dr. Abdul Qader Al Khayat board member of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, and Mrs. Huda Al Hashimi Executive Director of Strategy and Policy in the Prime Minister's Office. The program is funded by the Fund to support the communications and information systems of the TRA.
The program puts into effect the integration of modern technologies with traditional classroom tools into the educational process to transform it into a dynamic and interactive experience for both teachers and students. Teachers will be able to focus on the performance of each student, thereby aiding them to develop their individual abilities and skills. The learning process in the smart classroom will now include the support of tablet devices and computers as well as smart boards alongside the existing teaching system.
The program consists of three phases: the pilot phase, which took place during the last academic year and included grade 7 students in 14 government schools. The application phase that will continue throughout a five-year period, followed by the implementation of the program in schools across the UAE. Development and follow up will ensue. As the program progresses, support and updates for all its elements including devices, systems, platforms and other interactive material will be ongoing.
For more information, please contact:
Nora Alawadhi
n.alawadhi@smartlearning.gov.ae
+971 4 230 0000
Rana Rizk
rana.rizk@theportsmouthgroup.com
+971 4 369 3569
Amina Grimen
amina.grimen@theportsmouthgroup.com
+971 4 369 3569
© Press Release 2014
