ABU DHABI // Emiratis who voted for Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Ham are pleased with his activity in the council.
Since his election, Dr Bin Ham has directed six questions to the Government and passed three recommendations to the Cabinet.
One that got particular attention was a call to shorten school days, which were increased in the academic year of 2009 from 750 hours per year to 1,200.
“Meaning by 60 per cent,” he said last year to the Minister of Education, Humaid Al Qattami. “This is a high percentage. It is a huge jump. Pupils and teachers have both suffered from this.”
He complained that the number of school days also increased from 145 to 180 a year. He said the long hours have meant pupils were overly tired and tended to dislike school. It also affected their nutrition, as school canteen food is unregulated.
The council agreed this was a concern and passed the recommendation to the Cabinet. The question received wide attention, with more than 36,000 views on YouTube.
Saad Al Ameri, an Abu Dhabi Government employee who voted for Dr Bin Ham in the 2011 elections, said it was expected that education concerns would be raised.
“Sheikh Mohammed bin Ham is a man of the people, a social man who reaches out to all nationals,” he said. “People only have good things to say about him. He has opened a number of schools and held workshops and cares about the youth.”
Mr Al Ameri said Dr Bin Ham is just like his famous grandfather, Salem, when it comes to kindness and caring for people.
“All people are happy with him. Not only the Awamer tribe voted for him, but all.”
Abdullah Al Mansouri, from Al Ain, another Government employee, also voted for Dr Bin Ham.
“He cares a lot about youth issues and education in the private sector,” he said. “He cares about locals and expatriates alike. And he is very easy to reach.
“I was happy that he won in the elections. I expected him to win.”
Other recommendations raised were to grant the wives of diplomats unpaid annual leave to accompany their husbands on overseas missions.
osalem@thenational.ae
