Every effort at promoting the Arabic language in schools in the UAE is laudable. The Ministry of Education has announced two competitions in reading the Arabic language, urging public and private schools to participate vigorously. The competitions, called We Read, We Innovate and The Flame of Reading offer attractive cash prizes, but that is just one aspect. The most important feature of these competitions is that they will nurture the tradition of reading in children — an invaluable cognitive skill that is at the heart of learning and intellectual development.
Arabic, one of the six international official languages of Unesco, is an intrinsic part of the UAE’s national identity and form of expression. It needs to flourish both for its traditional as well as contemporary value. These competitions will, therefore, help in integrating it more thoroughly with the minds of today’s young children. By giving the act of reading and learning a competitive edge, the authorities are infusing a sense excitement and challenge into the spirit of learning. This is inarguably an effective strategy that supports UAE’s Vision 2021 of making the country a centre of excellence for the Arabic language.
