His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Cabinet
Member, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chairman of
Education and Human Resources Council, said that technology has changed the
form and foundations of education and changed the teacher's mission and the
nature of its relationship with students, pointing out that the communications
revolution has allowed our children to exceed us in knowledge and using its modern
tools.
His Highness considered that the teacher's mission in this
age, which is full of major changes in all aspects of life including the
theories, foundations and methods of education, is that the teacher should play
the role of the interlocutor with the students and be a partner in their
experiences and creative attempts.
The statements of His Highness were made during opening of
the International Teachers Forum "QUDWA 2017", which held its 2nd
Session for two days in Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, under the patronage of
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and
Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Chairman of the Executive
Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The speech of His Highness started by the following
questions: "How many times have you tried to do something at home and
asked the help of your son or daughter? How many times have your children
helped you learn a new skill in your smartphones? When was the last time you
felt that you had taught your children something new in life?"
In answering these questions, His Highness said: "they know
everything, it is the answer of most of us, but it is not a joke, they really
know a lot of things".
His Highness stressed that the current era is different from
all what humanity has known before, it is an era where rooted concepts of human life since thousands of years are ending, and
other news concepts have begun to emerge.
His Highness added: "Who would have thought that the
paper messages would end in favor of electronic? Who would have thought he
would shop and buy what he wanted from a small phone? Who would have thought
that electronic currency would replace paper? The coming will be more
challenging and education is not far from these enormous changes, as we are on
the threshold of a new era that will change the concept of education, teacher
and school".
His Highness said:
"education will not be through the curriculum, but through experiments, where
home will be for reading and the school for applying what the student learned
in practical terms. The student will spend three or four hours, perhaps five
hours only in the school, which will turn from a building full of classrooms to
a place like sports or technical club that is full of different facilities where
students practice their educational activities".
His Highness said:
"memorizing will end in the era of Google, Wikipedia and smart phones, as
the curriculum will gradually melt in YouTube and phone applications
specialized in knowledge and education".
His Highness added:
"I know that among you who is wondering now how will the students learn?
what will they learn? I tell you, our children today know more than us and
understand perhaps more than us ... but not more than us when we were their
age, but more than we are now".
His Highness said:
"in the context of these enormous changes that have become a reality
around us, let me ask you: What is the role of the teacher? To answer this question,
we have to be realistic and less passionate, we have to recognize that the
teacher will lose his role in favor of technology, phone screen and industrial
intelligence, which have begun to sweep the most important areas of life today,
such as health and transport, and education is not far from this".
His Highness pointed
out that the teacher who wants to keep up with the modern era should move from
being a teacher who gives lessons and corrects assignments to be Mentor who
discuss students in interactive group activities that help them develop their
skills and thinking methods. Companies today stopped training their employees
and started sending them to orientation programs with professionals and
specialists in different sectors because guidance means that people learn real
experiences from real life, not just from books.
His Highness explained
that in the educational sector, the ability of children and students to learn exceeds
the teachers' ability and knowledge, because these young people are looking for
new information provided by life in various media, both useful and entertaining
at the same time.
His Highness said:
"as for the curricula, we need to realize that the current ones are not
valid for children and certainly not for us. I am not only talking about the
UAE but about the region and the world, except for some countries that have
taken the task of eliminating traditional education and engaging students in
the design of curricula with the teacher according to their abilities,
tendencies and potentials. For example, those who are interested in history
will study different curriculum from those who prefer mathematics and students who have art skills will
be in a group different from languages and programming groups".
His Highness stressed that
the goal of the new educational system that has begun to sweep the world, is
not to teach students the theories of Pythagoras, circle's radius and periodic
table of chemical elements, but to teach them how to think, search and analyze,
as well as how they have tools that give them the ability to contribute to the
development of their communities and keep pace with human civilization. His
Highness said: "my teachers, I did not come today to theorize the future
of education, you are the people
of education, I am talking to you as a father, I am telling you that the world
outside the school walls has greatly expanded, and the world of our children
has become bigger than us as parents and bigger than you as teachers and
supervisors of the educational process".
His Highness added:
"let us work together to understand this new generation and be equal to
the civilized responsibility we are facing as educators in the 21st
century".
His Highness concluded
his opening speech with quote by Gibran Khalil Gibran: "You are the
arches, and your children are the living arrows that life has thrown out of
your arches".
Hussain Al Hamadi:
Positive change in the world starts from the teacher
H.E. Hussain Ibrahim
Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, affirmed the role of the teacher in
instilling values of good, tolerance and generosity in future generations to
ensure positive change in the world.
This came during the
special dialogue session, which was held within the activities of the first day
of the International Teachers Forum "QUDWA 2017", H.E. focused
on the education system, considering that it is an integral part of the system
of any country in the world. He said: "we can't separate education system
from the state system, and we in the UAE, thanks to the support and guidance of
our wise leaderships and their keen interest in the educational system in
particular, we realize that education development is the responsibility of all,
and there is no alternative to the cooperation of all concerned governmental
and private bodies, in order to modernize this system according to the
scientific and technological development witnessed by the world".
H.E. stressed that
this modernization will not bear fruit if it does not coincide with the
development of the teacher and his proficiency of modern methods and
techniques, using the programs of the UAE Ministry of Education as an example
of the steps taken by the State in this regard. He added: "Education does
not develop without the teacher. In the UAE, we have launched several programs
for the development of teachers who are subject to more than 100 hours of
training annually, in addition to many lectures and specialized seminars for
teachers organized by the Ministry in cooperation with various local and
international institutions".
H.E. referred to the
project entitled "Teacher of the Future", which was launched by the
Ministry recently to prepare a new generation of teachers capable of
understanding and keeping pace with the accelerated scientific and
technological developments. This program allocates scholarships to interested
citizens and residents to study educational specifications in a number of the
most important universities in the UAE, with the aim of providing them with the
necessary academic support and vocational training during their university
studies, as well as providing employment opportunities at the Ministry of
Education after graduation.
H.E. stressed the need
to encourage those who are specialized in vital fields to be engaged in
education, and that the UAE is recognized as a pioneer in this field through
the initiative of "Teach for UAE", which succeeded in attracting and
rehabilitating more than 1000 university graduates of various disciplines,
including a number of 188 engineers who are practicing education profession
now.
Regarding inserting technological
innovations in the curriculum, H.E. said: "modern technology offers very
effective and interactive educational tools and methods that teachers have to
master them. We have conducted several experiments and field studies in this
regard in many schools, which prove that students have a notably high level and
their ability to understand through experiment is twice as fast as traditional
methods".
H.E. said: "modern
technology, including virtual reality, enriches the whole educational
experience, we should utilize the experiments of private schools and global
training centers, through transferring
this technology as quickly as
possible, as well as developing sustainable and low-cost method that enables
all countries and schools to include it in the Educational curricula".
H.E. concluded: "the
late father Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, our first teacher, has built the
UAE society on great values based on love, peace, tolerance and equality
regardless of differences of religion, customs or traditions. This is also the
role of the teacher in the school; we must instill these virtuous values in
future generations if we all want to make a positive difference in the world".
Noura Al Kabbi:
Technology will not compete teacher
H.E. Noura Bint
Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs,
stressed that no matter how advanced the tools and techniques developed by
technology and science to facilitate the educational process, the teacher's
role will not be affected; as such tools lack the element of emotional
communication with the student. The teacher has set a model for previous generations
and some young people of the current generation, and many of us like specific
subjects just because of his love for the teacher's style, so advanced modern
methods will not replace teacher's role.
H.E. added that
despite the importance and necessity of modern technologies, they are only
tools to enable the teacher to approach the new generation to acquire
knowledge, and there is no doubt that the student will always need a human
model that instills values and ethics.
These statements were made during the participation of H.E. in
a session entitled "Meeting with a Role Model" within the activities
of the first day of the International Teachers Forum "QUDWA 2017",
where she was interviewed by Mohammed Khalifa Al Nuaimi, Director of Education
Affairs Office at the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi.
H.E. pointed out that
the teacher has an important and vital role in the process of forming student's
personality, citing her personal experience because her mother was working in
teaching profession, asserting that her personality is greatly influenced by
her mother's hard way of dealing with her as a student without regard to being
her daughter.
In response to a
question from one of the attendees about the role of arts, culture and education
in empowering students with the skills of critical thinking, innovation and
high culture, H.E. said: "Today's children want to sing, draw or be a
super star, influenced by everything they see around them in society and social
media, so it is necessary to utilize arts and culture in a positive way to
serve the educational process".
H.E. added that the
difference of students' cultures and methods of education is one of the most
important reasons that made the role of the teacher more difficult in terms of
unifying the method of delivering information for all students. Moreover, it is
necessary to utilize arts and technology in educational process, and
understanding the most appropriate way to deliver information to students.
H.E. Noura Bint
Mohammed Al Kaabi praised the role of Abu Dhabi Media Foundation in organizing
educational activities for children, such as the interactive summer camp, which
trains young people on the basics of media work, presentations and promotion of
ideas or initiatives and how to draft urgent news.
In response to another
question from the audience on how to help students identify their source of
sound information in light of the spread of false news, H. E. stressed the need
to teach the student how to investigate the accuracy of information by
presenting incorrect information and other correct information, then tasking
student to verify it, especially in the context of the importance of the role
of media in educational process.
Regarding the need of
each school to include a social specialist to help the teacher to overcome the
social problems, H.E. Noura Al Kaabi supported the idea, considering it an
advanced step in establishing a positive environment within the school especially,
noting that the social specialist is a central link between the pillars of the
educational process.
The teacher is the
cornerstone of developing the educational system
The participating
Ministers in the International Teachers Forum "QUDWA 2017"
asserted that the teacher is the cornerstone of developing the educational
system in the different countries of the world; therefore the teacher has to
own the necessary tools to keep pace with the technological development in our
modern era.
H.E. Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of State
for Tolerance, confirmed that the UAE is proud to organize "QUDWA" Forum
and to provide the opportunity for teachers and experts from all over the world
to participate in the Forum, reflecting the social responsibility of all.
H.E. expressed that
she gained great benefit from her participation in this prominent global
educational event, where new and different perspectives were reviewed, a matter
that enhances the path of progress and development of educational sector both
locally and internationally.
In turn, Dr. Thani Bin Ahmed
Alzeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, stressed that the
teacher is the cornerstone of developing educational system, the process can't
be achieved without upgrading teachers and improving their performance.
H.E. said that the
teacher is a "role model" for students who spend a great deal of
their time with teachers in the classroom. They are the ones who give them
support and contribute to determining their steps in their scientific and
practical careers.
H.E. added that the critical
transformation that has taken place in all sectors in the world has posed many
challenges to the educational system, which must keep pace with all these
developments. H.E. stressed that the foundation of this development falls on
the teacher, who is the cornerstone of the educational process, which can't be
changed or developed without upgrading the teacher.
H.E. pointed out that
the development of the education profession in favor of teachers requires their
integrated preparation through many axes, most notably academic, professional
and cultural sides to enable them to interact creatively with students and
developments of the era. H.E. stressed that the wise leadership of the state
has given education sector most interest to build a generation based on
knowledge and believes in tolerance and respect for others, as well as according
to the highest standards of prestigious educational systems.
H.E., Suhail Bin
Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy, stressed the importance
of the International Teachers Forum "QUDWA 2017", which was launched
yesterday, and gathered a large number of teachers, experts and entrepreneurs
from all over the world to discuss and benefit from experiences to shape the
future of education.
H.E. referred to the
importance of the teacher to be "role model" and "guide"
who is able to keep pace with the changes in the educational system and school,
and explained that developing the teacher's skills is part of the UAE Strategy
to develop the educational system. H.E. called for a quick pace so that we
prepare our children to be ready for the changing future, in order to reach the
best educational level in the world.
H.E. Al Mazrouei
concluded that the Forum's opening speech of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed,
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, highlighted the need
to develop perceptions and educational plans and programs that keep pace with
the great change we are witnessing at the moment.
"QUDWA"
is a step that looks forward to the future with confidence
Mohammed Salem
Al-Dhaheri, Executive Director of School Operations at the Department of
Education and Knowledge, confirmed that this Forum, which was attended by 1056
people from different schools of the state and outside, along with a selection
of lecturers who were carefully selected from all countries of the world, will
be a great addition; a leap towards a bright future and a step that looks
forward to the future with confidence, to provide us with a generation concerned with creativity, critical
thinking and moving towards the horizon of success and constructive
aspirations. He added that the Forum's workshops gave more effectiveness and motivation
to the developments of education around the world, as they contribute to the
exchange of experiences and the transfer of educational cultures among teachers
that will transfer their experiences to their countries and schools to which
they belong and explain everything they have benefited during our educational Forum
"QUDWA".
Al-Dhaheri pointed out
that such forums reflect to us the level of education in the countries of the
world, and its most important tools, and how to use them in terms of ratios,
comparisons, proposals and data with educational evidence, all came in one
place within this Forum to benefit from the exchange of educational experiences
that serve the interest of all.
He said: "today's
education is different from the past, the teacher gives the idea, and the
student looks for information, which means that education has become a team
work.
Our leadership
seeks for the teacher's happiness
The participating
teachers in "QUDWA" Forum expressed their happiness with the Forum,
valuing the wise leadership role in supporting and appreciating the role of the
teacher in building and developing societies. They also praised the UAE's
efforts to achieve happiness for the teacher. Kholoud Al Mansoori said that the
title of "QUDWA" Forum in its second edition, "Education for the
Future", is a platform for the exchange of experiences, providing best
practices and highlighting leading models that have made a difference in the
world's education track.
Hiyam Al-Husani,
teacher, said that "QUDWA" Forum was held in conjunction with
Teachers' Day to support them, and to improve the educational system in the
country, adding that the importance of the Forum is reflected in its being an
opportunity to open the horizons of communication and dialogue with leaders and
officials in the field of education; aiming at upgrading the state to the level
of developed countries in the field of education. The Palestinian teacher Hanan
Haroub said that H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu
Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, is a role model in
the world through his unlimited support to the teacher and his recognition of
the teacher's value in building the society.
Hessa Ali, teacher,
stressed the importance of the Forum in exchanging experiences from various
countries in order to upgrade the level of education in the state, pointing
that H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and
Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, is credited for supporting
the teacher through the establishment of this annual Forum.
Fatima Obeid
Al-Marashdeh, teacher, said that the Forum aims to value the role of the
teacher in building civilized and educated societies. She also praised the role
of the Ministry of Education in developing teacher skills by providing the
needed training courses.
Majida Abdullah Dagher,
teacher, praised the establishment of the "QUDWA" Forum to celebrate
the role of the teacher locally and internationally, she said: "the
establishment of the forum is proof that the wise leadership in the country
pays attention to the teacher".
In turn, the teacher
Ahmed Al Kaabi expressed his happiness at attending and participating in this Forum,
which celebrates the teacher and his important role in building nations, and
explained that the government has made a huge leap in the development of the
teacher and his classification to be more effective.
For her part, Saraya
of Hassan al-Hafiti, teacher, praised the role of the Forum in enriching the
knowledge of the teacher, and expressed her happiness at the initiative of His
Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and
International Cooperation. She said: "the insistence of His Highness to
sit in the back row behind the teachers is only a clear message of the
importance of the role of the teacher and his great value in building
societies".
While Jame'ah Ahmed Al-Yamahi, teacher, stressed that the
act of Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to sit behind the teachers carries a
clear explanation of the meaning of "QUDWA", and expressed her deep
thanks to His Highness for this attitude and his speech, which inspired all
teachers.
Dr. Saeed Musabah Al
Kaabi, Chairman of the Sharjah Education Council, said that the selection of
the Forum to be held in these particular days in conjunction with Teachers'
Day, is meant to celebrate teachers, as the best reward for the teacher is to
put him on the right path for the future of education. He added that the Forum
contributes to the exchange of experiences and solutions, along with enhancing
the benefit of knowledge of teachers that contribute to the development of
their skills and the preparation for the future, which became the concern of
all those working in this field. He said: "the speech of His Highness
Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and
International Cooperation, was very important, and is an indication of
continued follow-up and interest in education, and the happiness of the
teacher. We express our pride of the contributions of the wise leaderships in
education and their role in motivating the teacher. We are proud of having a
leadership that stands by the teacher and supports him and seeks to provide all
the resources for his happiness".
Teachers:
"QUDWA" is an added value to human thought and educational approach
The teachers
participating in "QUDWA" confirmed that the Forum is an added value
to human thought and an educational approach.
Fatima Salem al-Sawafi,
teacher, said: "QUDWA Forum contributes to the development of education
and the teacher himself; to be able to create a generation that understands the
value of education itself, especially that all the teacher's practices, whether
positive or negative, are reflected in the student because the teacher is role
model".
Mona Salem, teacher,
explained that such educational conferences develop teacher's thinking in the
process of education, as the teacher benefits from the experiences of the teachers
in other countries, thus the teacher is not limited to the same environment but
opened to wider space where he could lead his students towards creativity, and
does not stand at a certain point. Sheikha Mohammed Al-Zahmi, teacher, said:
"such forums add to the teacher everything that is new, which helps him to
build a simple idea that reaches the student's mind simply and in flexible and
easy way to be contained and understood by students at the same time".
Bushra Ali Salim
Al-Naqbi, teacher, explained that the teacher plays a pedagogical role, as long
as he is upbringing generations, and conveying a great message to students
through promoting the values of tolerance, love and harmony and brotherhood,
along with teaching the curricula that include many values, especially now
there is an additional material for educational curricula "moral
education", a matter reflects the value of education and its role of
promoting these high principles through curricula.
Aisha Mohammed
Marzouki, teacher, added that today's educational conferences are a strong
motivation to launch with all innovation and creativity to achieve the UAE
leadership's vision, in addition such conferences give a catalyst and build the
internal strength of each teacher to produce the best and provide everything he
has in the context of the constructive competency of community service.
For his part, Ismail
Al-Husani, biology teacher at Khalifa Bin Zayed Secondary School, said that the
Forum opened new horizons for teachers to learn about the latest experiences in
the world, because the Forum attracts large numbers of participants from
different nationalities.
People of determination participate in organizing "QUDWA 2017"
A group of special Olympics
athletes – people of determination – participated in organizing the
International Teachers Forum "QUDWA".
The participation of
the special Olympics in the two-day Forum, held at the Emirates Palace, was
meant to strengthen their ability to give and contribute to various social,
scientific and sports activities, it reflected a belief in their active and
productive capabilities to serve the Forum and other activities, where they
helped the organizers in the registration and guiding attendees, as well as
other administrative services. "QUDWA" looks forward to empowering
teachers, supporting their careers and appreciating their noble mission. The
Forum brings together more than 900 participants from UAE educators, experts
and leaders and more than 80 countries to exchange experiences and insights
that inspire future teachers and advance education. The Forum discusses the
issue of education for the future through interactive sessions, discussions and
workshops with experts, influencers and pioneers in the education sector from
around the world.
A "blind
teacher" teaches English to poor people
Manil Mahargan, blind
teacher from Nepal, expressed his pleasure to participate in QUDWA Forum, which
gives him a positive incentive and affect his life for the better. Manil
teaches English to a large number of poor students and proved to be talented in
his profession by overcoming his handicap and giving a great motivation to all
around him with hope, especially as he targets poor areas to teach children and
help them learn. Manil said: "after I finished my studies, I asked myself
what was the next step in my life. I started looking for opportunities until I
heard an interesting talk about how to contribute to the development of society
from everyone. As a teacher I decided to help students living in poor
communities and develop their abilities And give them the right to learn, and
today I am helping these students".
Manil is proud to be a
teacher, and added: "I really love this profession and I am able to teach
my students smoothly using the PowerPoint program and the projector, where I
took advantage of technological development and developed myself by working on
a dedicated device".
He said: "my students may have social problems, most of
them suffering from poverty, but they do not have physical disabilities. They
are good students, so the future is great."
He concluded that
technology will be a basic support for people of determination, therefore it
should be used widely, pointing out that the UAE is interested the people of
determination that choosing this name indicates the advancement of the UAE, and
its keen to provide education for all groups and not depriving them or
defaulting on them because of things beyond their control.
07/10/2017