Positive moves

We spoke with Khalfan Ahmad Hareb, Director of the Dubai Ruler's Court and Chairman of the Social Development Committee, about the aims that have been defined in the Dubai Strategic Plan (DSP) for social development, initiatives in education, healthcare and social services and other issues such as increasing the presence of nationals in the workforce.

What are some of the important vehicles for social change and progress in the UAE?

Education and culture in my opinion are important vehicles for social change. Our country is moving forward in leaps and bounds.

For this positive move, we need our education to provide the thrust that takes us forward. At the same time, we have to retain our culture and not forget our traditions and the roots we come from.

We do not have to lose our identity by going forward. In fact, to define where we are going we need to know where we come from.

What are the objectives laid out by the DSP for education? And what are the steps that will be taken to achieve goals
such as literacy, among others?

Our first objective is to provide quality education that is accessible to all nationals. We will increase the autonomy of public schools management while enforcing performance transparency and accountability.

We will also upgrade teachers' qualifications to improve public schools performance and also upgrade the curriculum to meet international standards, among other steps.

We also plan to create and support inclusive education for students with special needs in the public and private sector.

How will the government encourage nationals, especially women, to become a productive part of the country's workforce?

We will support nationals through education and skills development so that they become preferred employees in strategic sectors, and make them aware of their role in the future development of the country.

We will equip them with the life skills required for living in a rapidly changing environment. I personally feel the plan should definitely look at creating more quotas in other sectors for nationals.

In reference to women in the workforce, we already have a great number of women who are presently working with different governmental departments.

We are drawing up a plan to create jobs for them in the private sector that suit their needs and provide them with a decent working environment.

We are also looking at setting up child daycare centres in government departments so working women can return to work.

We have also increased the maternity leave to 60 days. Nursing female employees in government departments are also authorised to leave work two hours daily to feed their infants.

Healthcare and social services make up a crucial aspect of social development. What are the steps the government will take to offer the community quality healthcare and social services as part of the DSP?

We plan to improve the healthcare sector governance structure, introduce health insurance to ensure that everyone has access to care, and improve the health system planning to ensure service availability, accessibility and quality.

We will also encourage international accreditation for hospitals, improve the rigour of licensing for clinical workforce and develop clinical guidelines, and focus on health awareness to improve the public's attitude towards health.

To provide quality social services, we plan to improve the social services sector's governance structure, establish a planning function to ensure availability and access to appropriate services and migrate a service delivery model from welfare to a social development approach.

We will also develop the capacity and qualifications of the workforce providing social services and mobilise voluntary social work and civil society organisations.