UAE’s Global Education Commitment on International Day of Education
The United Arab Emirates marked the International Day of Education on January 24th to emphasize its unrelenting commitment to the promotion of high-quality education, especially in areas affected by humanitarian crises. The UAE’s initiatives show that it is dedicated to establishing fair educational opportunities across the globe and believes in the transformative power of education.
Expanding Education in Crisis-Affected Regions:
The United Arab Emirates has initiated a groundbreaking effort in Lebanon to guarantee school continuation for pupils in displacement camps through the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Digital School. 40,000 students will gain from the initiative’s initial phase which will include funding for educational centres and digital learning resources.
The Digital School has trained over 2,500 digital teachers, served over 160,000 students in 13 countries since its founding in 2020 and provided multilingual content in Arabic, English, French and Spanish.
Advancing Higher Education and Research:
The Abu Dhabi Declaration which was adopted at the 19th Conference of Arab Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research further cemented the UAE’s position as a leader in education. This strategy framework is heavily focused on developing higher education throughout the Arab world and providing graduates with skills that will allow them to respond to changing demands in the labor market.
Education as a Cornerstone of UAE Foreign Aid:
The UAE’s foreign aid strategy continues to place a strong emphasis on education. The country has supported educational initiatives in poor nations by contributing $200 million to the Global Partnership for Education since 2018. Additionally Emirati humanitarian groups have taught hundreds of thousands of instructors, constructed thousands of schools around the world and given grants and scholarships to students all over the world.
The United Arab Emirates has provided the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) with approximately AED 190.1 million ($51.8 million) between 2012 and 2019 for the education of Palestinian refugees. The country has also assisted the Syrian refugees by providing funds for education programs in camps for internally displaced people.
National Initiatives in Education:
In the UAE, February 28 was recently designated as Emirati Day for Education to honour the 1982 graduation of the first class of teachers from the United Arab Emirates University. The United Arab Emirates has implemented a new scholarship based funding system for federal higher education institutions, reorganised the Ministry of Education and established a national framework for higher education rankings in an effort to further improve its educational system.
A Vision for the Future:
The UAE’s educational initiatives are a reflection of its progressive outlook which places a high value on sustainability, innovation and diversity. The UAE maintains its position as a global leader in education by investing in digital learning and providing humanitarian relief making sure that education continues to be a source of hope and advancement for next generations.