Education is an engine of growth and change

The Ministry of Education firmly believes that education is an engine of growth for the future.

In 2010, the Government launched Vision 2021. Education reform, becoming a knowledge economy and a nation of lifelong learners are all key components, alongside the UAE’s enduring aim to be a green economy for future generations.

This means that our education system must learn at least at the same speed as the pace of change of its external environment. And in the UAE change is happening at a formidable speed.

The UAE has gained unique expertise in embracing rapid change while preserving its cultural and social heritage. In its 45-year history, it has witnessed one of the world’s most dynamic socioeconomic transformations.

While we have remained deeply rooted in our cultural heritage, we have successfully transformed our economy thanks to the visionary leadership of our founding fathers.

The change of the education sector is our next ambition. Hence, we are deeply committed to establishing the foundations of the knowledge economy through a renewed education sector that will enable our students to become lifelong learning citizens.

Once they graduate, these new generations of professionals will power the growth of the UAE and apply their knowledge to the new industries of the nation, driving the country away from the oil-based economy to new heights of achievement.

To achieve this, the Ministry of Education has initiated a transformation process in which education policymakers, principals, teachers, parents, international experts and students together lay the foundations of a new education sector, built to achieve the goals of Vision 2021 and transmit the values that compose our tolerant society.

One of the milestones of this transformation started in February 2016, when the Government announced the merger of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

This merger has been designed to accelerate the implementation of the National Agenda for education objectives, primarily by establishing cohesion between general and higher education.

Through this approach, students will attend some of the world’s most advanced nurseries, schools, and universities where they will be given the right skill sets to contribute in a decisive manner to the Vision 2021.

This transformation is comprehensive – extending from kindergarten through to higher education and encompassing all aspects from licensing, specialisation, academic accreditation and supervision of each institution. It will include education and programme quality, accredited academic programmes and supporting services, the latter tasked primarily with general and higher education.

The new consolidated Ministry of Education will be able to track student performance and apply the necessary reforms to benefit students, teachers and the UAE as a whole.

Specifically, I would like to address two key examples that demonstrate the transformation that we are implementing.

The first case is related to the role of teachers and educators: we believe that educators play a crucial role in inspiring students to deliver to their full potential and to transform their way of thinking so that unachievable dreams become achievable milestones.

Our goal is to ensure that students are led, inspired and motivated to innovate by qualified teachers who apply the latest teaching techniques and know-how. 

We are working hard with teachers to ensure that they have access to the most recent training know-how, and we work with them to ensure that they are adequately qualified to lead and inspire our students.

The second example is the recent launch of the new education curricula. We have recently launched a new education curriculum across all grades, which brings the latest innovations in education across the world and blends it with the UAE values and our approach to education and teaching.

For instance, we believe gifted students need to follow different education paths. To do so, we have launched a new programme this year, as part of the comprehensive new curricula system, to identify gifted students and place them in a programme that challenges them to reach their fullest potential and prepares them for success by teaching them how to improve their critical thinking and communicate confidently.

These are just two examples, in a comprehensive transformation system, of how innovation is driving the new strategic programme of the ministry.

Our path has only begun, and we look forward to sharing new initiatives on our goal to transform the education sector. 

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