Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, conducted an inspection visit to the Ministry of Education in Dubai.
Upon arriving, Shaikh Mohammad was greeted by Humaid Mohammad Obaid Al Quttami, Minister of Education.
On the first leg of his visit, Shaikh Mohammad visited the ministry's customer service centre. He was briefed on the customer suggestions and proposal models, as well as an award that is given to a positive suggestion or opinion that would help to improve the ministry's provided services.
In the meeting hall, Shaikh Mohammad listened to a presentation by Al Quttami and the ministry's Undersecretaries on the ministry's plans for the upcoming 2011-2012 school year, as well as the preparations on the ministerial level and education zones.
The preparations are in line with the directives of Shaikh Mohammad, who keenly follows up on the steps taken by the ministry to meet the requirements and needs of all schools for the upcoming school year. These efforts and requirements are also in line with improving and amending some of the courses in the school curricula, in addition to achieving the national document in the Arabic language and Islamic Studies courses, which are currently being revised and are awaiting final approval.
Shaikh Mohammad expressed his satisfaction with the steps taken by the ministry to ensure that the schools' requirements of teachers is met, and recruitment of national and Arab cadres in the UAE to meet the need for school staff.
The minister's presentation included the ministry's initiative for the vocational development of teachers, the approval of a profession license for members of the school authorities, and preparatory programmes for newly recruited teachers, as well as the process of implementing the Schools Information Management System (SIMS) in all schools.
Shaikh Mohammad also reviewed the e-portal project that includes introducing an Arabic and English digital library. He listened to an explanation on the steps taken by the ministry to implement "Mohammad Bin Rashid e-learning Center" under the "e-Learning Centre" project aimed at regulating and planning public policy for all initiatives related to the educational technology.
On the final leg of his visit, Shaikh Mohammad visited Al Noor Nursery for children of the ministry's employees.
Shaikh Mohammad emphasized the importance of moving forward in the path of excellence. He said that everyone must work to surpass any obstacles and difficulties in order to reach the desired objectives.
Shaikh Mohammad said that examinations are the ideal method in revealing the capabilities of teachers recruited in the education sector. He ordered the ministry to work towards training and qualifying national cadres to supply them with the necessary skills and self confidence to take up the teaching profession in UAE schools, which he said require the capability and drive of national cadres.
Shaikh Mohammad reaffirmed the great attention and priority given to education by the UAE leadership, government and community, adding that the UAE has harnessed all available financial resources to support education and its institutions.
He also stressed the importance of adopting up-to-date education methods, and utilizing technology to raise education levels to global standards.
