Pupils returning to a girls' school in Abu Dhabi were joined by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
Smiling and perched at the back of the class, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, sat in on a lesson with pupils at the government-run girls' school in Khalifa City.
On Saturday, he urged pupils to enjoy school but also seize the opportunity to learn and prepare themselves for the future.
"Continue your educational journey with all seriousness and hard work, as our goal is no longer to pass only - but to excel and make it to the top," he wrote on Twitter.
Joining him was Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
Al Asayel School saw a major investment in interactive equipment earlier this year, with traditional teaching materials replaced with an interactive calendar, digital avatars and iPads.
Grade six at the school is also now being taught by Alef Education, a private online education platform that engages pupils through the use of technology. The UAE-based company signed a deal in the last academic year to implement Alef’s education system in 10 Abu Dhabi public schools.
Lessons are taught with the help of video guides and teachers often revisit topics on-screen to make sure pupils have a good understanding before moving on.
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Back to school series:
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Pupils return to school - in pictures
'Excel - and make it to the top': UAE leaders wish pupils well ahead of new term
UAE parents angry at rising cost of 'poor quality' school uniforms
Dh1,000 for a four-year-old: private schools' uniform policy leaves families out of pocket
Police issue stark road safety warning ahead of new school year
