Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, has called on schools and universities across the country to step up efforts to promote national identity and culture and the Arabic language.
Sheikh Abdullah, chairman of the Education and Human Resources Council, spoke of the need to integrate core Emirati values into curriculums and teaching methods from early years through to higher education studies.
The senior minister set out his vision during a virtual meeting of the Education and Human Resources Council, state news agency Wam reported.
Sheikh Abdullah said that Emirati history was full of notable achievements that could enrich children's knowledge and teach moral lessons while enabling them to become future leaders.
During the meeting, Minister of Culture and Youth Noura Al Kaabi reviewed the national framework of Emirati cultural activities in schools.
It aims to develop Emirati national identity and cultural values in pupils through participation in activities, contests, events, school trips, and workshops during and after school hours.
The strategy targets various topics in Emirati heritage traditions, social activities, the Arabic language, folk art and traditional sports, as well as Emirati literature.
Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Future Technology and chairwoman of Emirates Schools Establishment, UAE's public education regulator, reviewed the ESE's priorities for the next year, and also explained its priorities that include improving students' educational achievements and enhancing their skills.
In June, the ruler of Sharjah urged teachers to promote Arabic in schools.
Sheikh Dr Sultan stressed the importance of teaching Arabic to school pupils, focusing on the need to develop new teaching methods for the language as well as encouraging youngsters to learn it.
“The Arabic language is our belonging to the Quran,” he said in an address to teaching staff at the Sharjah Education Academy.
“The Arabic language is a stockpile of our history, our knowledge and our culture. The Arabic language is what holds firm our belief in our religion. The Arabic language is what unites us from the furthest corners of the Earth — from the far East to the far West, we are united under one language.”
Learning Arabic in the UAE - in pictures
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Siblings Laila, 6, and Mourad, 8, are learning Arabic at home. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Mourad and Laila's mother Amira Abdel-Rahman said Arabic is battling against the predominance of English as the common language of the UAE. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Amira said she and her husband speak Arabic at home almost all the time to encourage Mourad and Laila to learn. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Lebanese teacher Munir Jamal says encouraging interaction in Arabic among pupils in class at Hartland International School Dubai has helped with the teaching of the language. -
Mr Jamal says parent-teacher conferences are important opportunities to show the co-operation and care for the future of the student and development of their linguistic skills. -
Maha Al Halawani, head of Arabic at the American Academy for Girls in Mirdif, said they offer one-to-one support to pupils who struggle with the Arabic language. -
Dubai Arabian American Private School, like most schools, have English and Arabic signs for pupils. Antonie Robertson/The National -
American Academy for Girls school encourage parents’ involvement in their children's learning. Antonie Robertson/The National -
Lebanese teacher Mohammed Saad, who will join Dubai Arabian American Private School as principal this year, said training Arabic teachers is important in improving pupils' learning of the language.
