Mobile classroom takes to Sharjah streets to teach children who cannot afford school

A bus that can accommodate 20 pupils will roam areas of the emirate targeting illiterate children to teach them educational basics.

A bus converted into a mobile classroom visits residential areas in Sharjah to teach illiterate children between the ages of six and 15. Courtesy Sharjah Social Services Department

SHARJAH // A bus converted into a mobile classroom will visit residential areas in Sharjah and bring literacy to children between the ages of six and 15.

The bus crew teach reading and writing in Arabic, Islamic studies, maths and English to children from poor families who cannot afford to enrol them at school, as well as children who do not have identification papers.

The mobile classroom will be in Al Qadisya, Al Ghafiya and Al Sabkha, where already a high number of families have registered their children, according to organisers Sharjah Civil Services Department.

Mariam Al Qasir, director of the social education department, said that poor children should have the opportunity to learn just like any other child.

“We have a classroom that accommodates 20 boys and 20 girls, who are picked up from their homes and brought to the Sharjah Civil Service Department to learn these subjects, and now this initiative will reach out to them in their areas to ease the burden on the children and their parents,” she said.

The mobile classroom can accommodate 20 pupils at a time and it contains educational tools such as chalkboards, a TV, multimedia, pens and books.

“The initiative is dubbed Noon Caravan. Teachers for this initiative are retired teachers who are willing and capable of teaching this unfortunate segment of the community,” Ms Al Qasir said.

Children attending the mobile classroom will experience classes like in normal schools for three months, with an average of 12 classes a month.

“The children will learn the basics of reading and writing in Arabic and English, they will also learn maths and religion,” said Ms Al Qasir.

“There are female and male teachers, each giving classes according to their speciality.”

Ms Al Qasir said the idea of the mobile classroom was put forward to families and it received an overwhelming responses and big turnout for registrations.

“We have now over 400 pupils registered, and the demand is still high. It shows how desperate these families want their children to have an education, just like ordinary children,” she said.

The classes are open to children from all nationalities and parents can register their child by calling Sharjah Civil Services Department on 06 507 8777.