Dubai: All secondary and preparatory level public schools in Dubai will have a compulsory physical education curriculum starting this academic year.
The Dubai School Agency, the first agency of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), presented to the principals of public schools, a sports-related curriculum developed in conjunction with Right To Play (RTP).
RTP is an athlete-driven international humanitarian organisation that uses sport and play as a tool for the development of children and youth in the world.
Twenty-two principals of cycle two and three public schools in Dubai attended the presentation at the KHDA premises. The presentation was attended by Dr Abdullah Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of KHDA, Fatima Al Merri, CEO of the School Agency, Abdul Hafiz Elladki, RTP-, Regional Director Middle East and Ahmad Abdul Rahman, Project Manager, RTP.
Community
The Dubai School Agency worked with RTP last semester to develop a physical education curriculum for public schools to meet the needs of the community in this field.
Climatic and cultural conditions in the UAE were taken into consideration while developing the curriculum.
RTP regards this project as the first of its kind in the region and it is expected that the new customised version of the curriculum will be adapted by other countries in the region.
The curriculum will be applied in 44 schools benefiting 21,995 students [8,968 male and 13,027 female students].
The male students represent 65.5 per cent of the total male student population in public schools while the female students represent 71 per cent of the total female population in all public schools in Dubai.
Fatima said: "After today, we do not want the sports and health education to play a marginal role. It is part of the KHDA strategy, as well as the Dubai Strategic plan 2015," Al Merri added.
