'Beat challenges, secure bright future for students'

Dr Amal Al Qubaisi

Dr Amal Abdullah Juma Al Qubaisi, Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) Director General, has urged private schools in UAE's capital to overcome difficult challenges, in order of securing a brighter future for young students, who she believes are the future leaders of the nation in the field of knowledge. 
The call came during the Private Schools Annual Forum, which was held at Jumeirah Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday morning. Dr Al Qubaisi, along with ADEC officials, school principals and senior staff, spoke about the measures, which are currently being taken, in order of succeeding the vision they hope to achieve for Abu Dhabi 2020, especially in terms of providing world-class education for the youngsters in the capital.
Prior to discussing the current and future outlook of education, Dr Al Qubaisi, who was also the first woman to be elected as member of UAE Federal National Council, back in 2006, paid a heart-warming tribute to UAE's martyrs, who were laid to rest over the weekend.  "We are one heart and we are one hand," she said, adding, "We are proud of all our sons. Our mission is not only education, but also the way we are brought up."
The Director General of ADEC shared inside information about the journey the educational system has overcome within the years, and advised schools that the time is just ripe to focus on overcoming heavy challenges, in order of creating a dynamic educational system for students.
"We have a number of challenges, this includes the lack of social interactions at the right levels, creating reliable programmes that aid highly gifted students, supporting children with special needs, the focus on kindergartens, because they are the first step to education, as well as career counseling."
Dr Al Qubaisi highlighted why focusing on careers from an early stage is crucial. "It makes me sad that some children don't know what career they wish to adopt in their future," she said, adding that, "sometimes we have students who are excellent in science, but they want a career in literature, therefore, we must focus on career counseling."
Science was also a key component, which was heavily focused on by Dr Al Qubaisi, as she believes that this is something that many schools are currently lacking and are causing children to fall behind on one of the world's most crucial matters.
"There are many countries who exceed UAE in science and massive scientific development, so we must work on this because it will have a great impact on the future," This is an age of technological knowledge," she added.
Hamad Ali Al Dhaheri, Executive Director of ADEC Private Schools Quality Assurance Sector (PSQA), also highlighted on key elements and challenges, which schools must overcome.
He pointed out that despite the fact that an immense number of schools have made overwhelming improvements during inspections, there still needs to be a focus on creating a more dynamic improvement in education, with science again being a focal point. "Above these aspects, we are focusing firstly on the safety and the security of our students," Al Dhaheri added.
Part of the pillars, which Dr Al Qubaisi believes can be overcome and achieved include: knowledge, which she believes must be utlised in science, the focus on nationals, the drive to wider participation, (whether cultural and/or social), as well as equalising education for all.
Dr Al Qubaisi noted that focusing on science should start as early as kindergarten, as it will help boost a child's creativity and knowledge.  The five-year plan aims to create a greater generation of knowledge, which must begin with stem (science), innovation mechanisms and creativity, thus helping insure that students from all private and public schools excel. 
"Any developed country must have high scientific research," Dr Al Qubaisi pointed out, adding that, "hopefully through this system that we aspire to, we can achieve our vision of success for both private, as well as public schools in Abu Dhabi." 
"We will spare no effort to work thoroughly to achieve our vision. We must do our best to deliver the highest education for our children, as they are the future generation in the field of knowledge."
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com    

• Abu Dhabi