Dubai: The Ministry of Education has started distributing smart devices to children with special needs — from grade one to grade three — as well as teachers, in 100 public schools, the ministry announced on Monday.
In partnership with Samsung, the ministry provided these students with smart devices like Galaxy note 10.1 and Samsung Ativ laptops.
Wireless connection ports were also installed in schools targeted for the year 2014 by Samsung’s ‘Samsung hope for Children’ programme, which aims to provide students with special needs with the latest educational technologies.
Fawzia Hassan Garib, Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Operations said the first phase aims to provide technologies to the teachers who will use the devices to explain the curriculum better to children with special needs.
She said the second phase will see Samsung and the Ministry work closely to develop digital content that includes effective educational programmes that reflect the ministry’s curriculum and encourage students to take advantage of the latest technologies.
Fawzia said this comes as part of an MOU signed by the two parties to provide modern technologies necessary and appropriate for students with special needs in all government schools.
She stressed the importance of including students with special needs in UAE’s move towards smart education, emphasising that they are part of the educational community in the country and so should be included,
Fawzia said the Ministry of Education strives towards successful universal educational experiences, noting that modern technology has become an important educational means with a deep impact in improving the teaching methodology and methods.
