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182 judges get e-training for Arab Reading Challenge

The sessions took place in preparation for the challenge, in which each school will nominate three students from its four age groups.

The Ministry of Education recently concluded e-training sessions of 182 judges from different schools across the UAE, through MS Teams online platform, to help them qualify to participate in the 5th edition of the Arab Reading Challenge. The training focused on three basic elements, including the importance of arbitration within the school, qualities of the reading student, and criteria of arbitration.
The ministry held two e-training sessions for two groups of judges last Wednesday and Thursday. These were spearheaded by Dr Fawzi Al-Aak, an Arabic language specialist at the ministry's curriculum department. While the first session included judges from Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al-Khaimah, and Fujairah, the second had judges from Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
The sessions took place in preparation for the challenge, in which each school will nominate three students from its four age groups that   students from grades 1-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12.

Dr Amna Al Dahak Al Shamsi, assistant undersecretary of the care and activities sector at the Ministry of Education, said: "The ministry is dedicated to continue its activities and initiative even with the transition to distance learning, by investing in its multiple smart learning platforms. We are also keen to follow up on the implementation of different initiatives such as the Arab Reading Challenge, by converting activities like the judges' training and arbitration to be done online."

She added: "The implementation of the e-training sessions for the Arab Reading Challenge judges reflects the ministry's commitment to contribute to initiatives with educational outreach. Through this, we strive to refine the judges' skills and provide them with the best possible tools to support them in carrying out their mission in choosing with full integrity, transparency and efficiency the best participants in the Arab Reading Challenge."

Al Shamsi pointed out: "Through the previous editions of the Arab Reading Challenge, we managed to gain rich experiences that helped us support qualified judges to obtain the best outputs from the challenge."

The Arab Reading Challenge, which is held in the United Arab Emirates each year, attracted 21 million students for its 5th edition, with an increase of 55 per cent compared to number of participants in the previous edition that recorded a participation of 13.5 million students from 49 countries.

The Arab Reading Challenge initiative embodies the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, aimed at instilling a passion of reading and learning in the hearts of young people, and working to create a reading vibe throughout  linking the "Arab Reading Challenge" initiative with school students in the Arab world, and their peers in foreign countries, as well as learners of the Arabic language who communicate in a different languages.

reporters@khaleejtimes.com