Announcement follows in-depth planning and community engagement by MBRSLP continuing to enhance academic levels throughout the UAE

Dubai, United Arab Emirates 18 January 2015

Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program (MBRSLP) today announced the introduction of several major educational initiatives for schools across the United Arab Emirates. The new developments and pilot programs aimed to benefit students, teachers and parents demonstrate the Programs continuous improvement and innovative spirit that lies at the core of its mission.

The rollout of these new initiatives follows intensive review and assessment of the Program which involved many stakeholders. Now in its second year, the Program continues to be a strong catalyst in transforming the UAEs education system in line with the Ministry of Educations aspirations, as well as supporting the broader national vision for 2021. Through these efforts, the MBRSLP has been encouraging greater cooperation and a competitive outlook between the schools over 147 institutions - involved in the Program. Similarly, along with the various new initiatives introduced, the Program will undoubtedly foster the generation of innovative advances as it works towards to improving the UAEs education system.

Since the Program was initiated in 2012, we have implemented many initiatives and made required changes to benefit the educational community of students, teachers, and parents to empower future leaders through the application of world class teaching techniques. The latest initiatives are in line with our overarching goal to provide quality world class educational options and programs that will drive our community forward, said Mohammed Gheyath, Director General of MBRSLP.

The new programs and initiatives include:

o   Starting this semester, Smart Radio, will be launched across select schools. The new platform will allow school radio broadcasts to be transmitted through the Internet allowing students to actively participate in and engage with each other.

o   Periodic training for all members of the MBRSLP support teams, in addition to special qualification exams and special courses to ensure members are certified. Training will be especially important to parents who will be able to track their childs performance through the Programs online platform that gives them access to view lesson plans, assignments, and progress reports. With knowledge and easy access to information and support, parents can engage more closely with teachers and principals to take part in their childs education.  The Program acts as an extension of the education system beyond the classroom.

o   The Microsoft in Education Global Forum, organised by Microsoft, this year will be launched under the auspices of the MBRSLP and the Ministry of Education.  The event taking place on February 22nd to 23rd, will provide the opportunity for education stakeholders to discuss how technology can address key challenges in education. It will provide a prominent platform to share innovative best practices and learn from experts in the field.

o    A Principals Portal intended to stimulate knowledge exchange between school principals. The new platform will allow school principals to share best practices and will help encourage peer to peer learning, increasing cooperation between the various schools.

Additionally, members of the MBRSLP Innovation Council, consisting of a group of teachers responsible for providing creative ideas to help develop the Program and strengthen it through field experiences, were recently appointed. The members will have access to students and teachers and will be conducting research to ensure that the Program meets their needs and is improved on a continuous basis.  The Council will also encourage inter-school sharing working between school boards and principals.

For more information on the Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program, please visit:
www.smartlearning.gov.ae
Facebook.com/SmartLearningAE
Twitter.com/SmartLearningAE
Instagram.com/SmartLearningAE

-Ends- 

For more information, please contact:
Noura Alawadhi
n.alawadhi@smartlearning.gov.ae
+971 4 230 0000

Nizar Saab
nizar.saab@theportsmouthgroup.com
+971 4 369 3575

Amina Grimen
Amina.Grimen@theportsmouthgroup.com
+971 55 298 6070

About the Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program is a catalyst for change working to transform the UAEs education system in line with UAE Vision 2021 by raising the standards of education to meet international standards, while setting new precedents in smart learning worldwide. The Program presents a comprehensive approach inclusive of students, teachers, parents, and principals to work collaboratively to build future leaders. Similarly, the Program works hand in hand with the vision of the Ministry of Education, ensuring that the education system is constantly evolving and is up to date with global changes.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Smart Learning Program came into formation by Ministerial Decree No. 25 of 2012, which also created a Supreme Committee to oversee its implementation. H.E. Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, the Minister of Education, is Chairman of the Supreme Committee joined by committee members, H.E. Dr. Abdul Qader Al Khayat, Board Member of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Information and Communication Technology Fund (ICTFund) which funds the Program, and H.E. Huda Al Hashimi, Executive Director of Strategy and Policy in the Prime Ministers Office. 

The Program integrates modern technology and innovative teaching methodologies with traditional tools in order to transform the education system into a dynamic and interactive learning experience for educators and students alike. With the use of Smart Learning teaching techniques, teachers can focus more on the individual performance of each student and empower them to showcase their strengths and grow new skills. The learning process in Smart Learning Classrooms includes the support of tablet devices and laptop computers as well as smart boards alongside the existing teaching tools.

 The Program started in 2012 with its Pilot Phase, which took place in 14 government schools with Grade 7 students. Phase I of the Program covered 123 schools and fully implemented Smart Learning techniques with 11,000 students in the 2013/14 school year. Phase II of the Program will include 25,000 students from Grade 7 and 8 during the 2014/15 academic year, as well as Pilot Phase for Grade 9 students. With every academic year, the Program will proceed according to a systematic plan to absorb more students and schools until it reaches all UAE government schools by the year 2019. As the Program progresses, regular updates of all its elements including technology devices, teaching methodologies and supporting platforms will be made available. Press Release 2015