SHARJAH // Eighty elected pupils from Sharjah schools attend the first session of the emirate’s sixth youth council.
The Youth Shura Council, made up of pupils aged between 14 and 17, convened at Sharjah Consultative Council on Monday to raise questions and discuss matters that are then put to top government officials.
The first session was attended by officials from the Ministry of Education, National Media Council and Sharjah Health Zone, who faced questions from council members.
Most questions were about education, such as the quality of English teaching in public schools compared with private schools. Concerns were also raised about the waiting times in accident and emergency departments and the lack of Emirati doctors and nurses, in addition to inquiries about government moves to tackle bullying and blackmail on the internet.
Council members said most answers from officials were good, although some responses were elusive and not satisfactory.
Muhra Al Marzoqi asked Ali Mehad Al Suwaidi, assistant undersecretary for administrative services at the MoE about the quality of English being taught in public schools.
“It’s important for us to be proficient in English to be able to compete with others when we finish our studies. We feel private schools are more proficient than us in public schools,” she said.
Mr Al Suwaidi said afterwards that the questions from the young members were thorough.
“It shows how much they are aware and concerned about problems in the educational system. My answers addressed the general problems we have and not the specifics, which may not be satisfactory to the member who asked,” he said.
Council member Mariam Ali, from Kalba, agreed. “His answers were not convincing, he kept manoeuvring and did not give us a direct answer to our questions,” the 16-year-old said.
The council, whose members sit for two years, is a forum for Sharjah youth to express their views and discuss their issues. It gives them insight into government processes and helps them develop leadership skills.
Mohammed Al Zari, 17, from Sharjah city, found the session informative and officials responsive. “They answered most of our questions directly, and it is very enlightening to us to know the real problems faced by our government,” he said.
tzriqat@thenational.ae
