DUBAI // Up to Dh4.6 million worth of cash prizes are up for grabs to public schools in Dubai and the Northern Emirates in a Ministry of Education award scheme.
The Founder Award was launched on Tuesday by Hussein Al Hammadi, the Minister of Education, on the opening day of the Global Education Forum in memory of the UAE’s Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed.
The monetary prizes are meant to incentivise teachers, principals and other schools administrators from K-12 to improve their schools’ standards in creative ways.
Mr Al Hammadi said: “Excellence is our approach and the basis for ensuring our competitiveness and this award comes at a time when the Ministry of Education is helming efforts and initiatives to educate the community at large to work towards the future together for a better life for our children.”
The award criteria are based on the ministry’s assessment of how students and schools demonstrate 21st century skills, scientific competitiveness, sustainability in education, innovation and creativity by meeting the targets set by the UAE vision 2021.
The winners will be those “who perform their educational duties to the fullest, and are dedicated to their work and complete their responsibilities faithfully,” according to the ministry.
Award winners will be chosen by a specialised committee charged with selecting the winners based of their documented performance that demonstrate excellence.
The award will be handed out in four categories of excellence: school performance, distinction in innovation, financial budgeting, and creativity, according to the ministry.
First-place winners in each category will win Dh1.5 million, Dh840 000 for second place, third prize is Dh560,000 and the fourth prize is Dh400,000.
An awards ceremony will be held in October to honour the winners.
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