Fujairah: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, visited Fujairah Wednesday.
Shaikh Mohammad who was accompanied by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and a number of ministers, inspected the Ministry of Social Affairs’ Special Needs Rehabilitation Centre.
Shaikh Mohammad met with Salma Al Ka’abi, a visually- impaired teacher at the centre who obtained a BA degree challenging her impairment.
He commended Salma for the spirit of challenge and determination to pursue education and defeat her impairment to become a role model for ambitious young Emiratis who strive to be productive and effective members of the society.
“You set an example to be emulated by young Emiratis who must learn from you the determination and strong will to battle challenges if they wish to pursue education and achieve their goals in life,” Shaikh Mohammad told Salma.
He toured the centre and visited classrooms where he was briefed by Mariam Al Roumi, Minister of Social Affairs, on special education and vocational programmes offered to children with special needs, especially those with visual, hearing, mental and physical impairments.
As part of the centre’s visit, the Vice-President visited Tasneem chocolate factory which is dedicated to rehabilitation of children with special needs and integrating them into the mainstream of society in future.
Shaikh Mohammad underlined his government’s special attention given to this segment of people in line with the directives of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
He also highlighted the importance of provision of all necessary laws and practical procedures that protect the rights of special needs children, especially with regard to providing them with healthcare, education and job opportunities, with the aim of integrating them into the community as productive members.
Shaikh Mohammad referred to federal Law No.29 of 2006 regarding their rights and duties as effective members.
He urged the relevant authorities to double efforts in the service of special needs people and help them to be completely integrated into the society by offering job opportunities and providing them with all means of dignified life just like their normal counterparts.
Shaikh Mohammad also visited the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) for Girls, where he was received by Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and HCT President, other officials and the teaching staff. He visited various sections and classes which accommodate1, 700 female students in various subjects.
Shaikh Mohammad attended part of a class and discussed the topic with students and listened to lectures by teachers.
He inaugurated the Arabic language website of the HCT in Fujairah and was briefed by a student on the college’s curriculum and education development plans.
Shaikh Mohammad instructed Dr. Tayyeb Kamal to introduce new sections and education programmes, including Pharmacy, health sciences, emergency medicine and dental assistance.
He instructed the National Human Resource Development and Employment Authority (Tanmia) to conduct a comprehensive study for creating new jobs for graduates in the Eastern Region.
He also visited the electronic engineering classes, and then headed to the liberal where he was briefed on how to benefit from e-references.
Shaikh Mohammad visited the Media section where he addressed students by urging them to study hard and determine to release their goals.
On a kind gesture, Shaikh Mohammad visited the house of Salma, the visually impaired teacher—37 years, who overcame her impairment and challenged her difficult conditions to achieve her dreams.
