UAE | Education
Drive to educate Emirati women largely successful
Ministry looks into ways to provide distance learning
- By Iman Sherif, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 April 6, 2010
Abu Dhabi: The percentage of Emirati women without an education has dropped to 6.7 per cent in 2010, down from the 18.1 per cent registered in 1995.
The slump is the result of more Emirati women entering the job market and taking on prominent positions in industry.
The promise of a better future for Emirati women was the core highlight of the third Women Union conference held yesterday in the capital, where the importance of providing Emirati women with continuous education was emphasised.
According to Youmna Hamad Badwa, director of the Higher Education Planning Division and member of the Women's Union, the Ministry of Higher Education is currently looking into ways to provide distance learning diplomas to allow more women to pursue and continue their education.
"In light with this vision, the Ministry of Higher Education is now focusing on students and families...The UAE has become a place for high quality education sought by students across the region," said Youmna.
Fadda Lootah, from the National Human Recourses Development and Employment Authority and a member of the Women's Union, said that the prominent positions occupied by Emirati women paid ample testimony to successes made by UAE government in educating women.
"Women currently occupy 22.5 per cent of Federal National Council seats, 30 per cent [of employees] in senior positions, 10 per cent [of officials] in the UAE [diplomatic offices] and 66 per cent... in government sector positions," Fadda said.
Youmna said some of the challenges discussed and pertaining to the education sector included the poor performance of high school students in subjects such as English and Maths, students choosing to study liberal arts rather than science, a general lack of students engaged in scientific researches, a limited number of Emirati's holding a doctorate, and a lack of Emirati lecturers across universities.
Relevant skills
The Women's Union meeting concluded that the main area of focus should be on the provision of high quality education to all students across the UAE, as well as fit and skilled Emirati students once they graduate, to equip them with skills in tandem with workforce demands.
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