DUBAI 5 March 2019: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, yesterday visited educational institutions in Fujairah and Kalbaa in Sharjah. During his visit, he announced the allocation of Dh1.5 billion to build the first group of a ‘new generation’ of Emirati schools.
His Highness also launched a plan to transform the Higher Colleges of Technology into economic zones and approved a Dh100-million fund to nurture student projects and support the career development of 65,000 students in the hospitality, retail, oil & gas and logistics sectors.
“Our aim is to introduce a range of new ideas in the next 50 years and foster the development of the new generation, which will accelerate our sustainable economic growth. The new generation needs to adopt different approaches and tools for the future,” His Highness said.
Accelerated Development
“When people have doubts due to economic volatility, we accelerate development, and when they are afraid of the future, we further raise our commitment to build it. We have created a vision for our nation’s development over the next 50 years,” His Highness added.
Sheikh Mohammed’s remarks came as he visited a number of education facilities including government schools and the Higher Colleges of Technology and reviewed their development plans. Schools that His Highness visited included Al Furqaan Primary School for Boys and the Martyrs School 1 in Kalbaa.
His Highness was accompanied during his visit by Minister of Cabinet Affairs and The Future Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi; Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation Nasser bin Thani Al Hamli; Minister of State for Higher Education Dr. Ahmad bin Abdullah Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi; and Minister of State for Public Education Jameela Al Muhairi.
New Gen School Design
During the tour, he revealed features of the new generation of schools including design and robotics labs as well as artificial intelligence facilities. These schools will also be equipped with healthcare and environmental labs along with sports facilities.
The new Fund created to support student projects is in line with the Fifty Year Charter launched by Sheikh Mohammed earlier this year. His Highness also issued directives to create specialised technical academies within colleges that support students who want to change their careers. This will help boost the country’s economy by enabling talented individuals to keep pace with technological developments. The academies will be open to both students and those who want to upgrade their professional skills in line with job market requirements.
Sheikh Mohammed also issued directives to implement fast track programmes in higher education institutes that enable exceptional students to get their graduate degrees in three years.
