Mohammad emphasises need to focus on information technology

Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, yesterday visited schools and government bodies in Liwa and Madinat Zayed.

Shaikh Mohammad also ordered the allocation of a special budget for public schools.

Shaikh Mohammad's visit to the Western Region started at the Fatima Bint Assad Girls School in Liwa, where he was welcomed by the headmistress and staff.

He was accompanied by Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, Dr Hanif Hassan, Minister of Education, and Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs.

Shaikh Mohammad toured the school's 17 classes, which accommodate 244 girls. He spoke to the girls about their studies and ambitions and commended their confidence and awareness.

Nurturing careers

While touring Al Siddique Boys School and its classrooms and facilities, Shaikh Mohammad spoke to the headmaster and teachers about improving education methods and focusing on computers, to give graduates the information technology they need in their future careers.

Shaikh Mohammad later visited the Women's Colleges of Higher Technology in Madinat Zayed, where he was received by the college's administration, faculty and students.

Shaikh Mohammad attended part of the lectures and spoke to the girls about their subjects. Shaikh Mohammad instructed the Education Minister to coordinate with authorities to make available all funds required to develop learning process in public schools.

He also visited the Customer Centre for government services in Madinat Zayed. Dubbed 'Tamm', (Arabic for done), the centre provides a convenient single point delivery for a range of government services, including health service registration and certificates.

Shaikh Mohammad headed to Sifran Airbase and was welcomed by Major General Mohammad Bin Suweidan Al Qamzi, Commander of the Air Force and Air Defence and the officers stationed there. He was briefed by Al Qamzi on the fighters and air defence systems there, as well as the state of readiness to defend the country.