10/04/2013
The ICT Fund, an initiative by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), today signed a funding agreement amounting to AED 53 million in support of the initial phase of implementing the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Smart Learning program.
The signing ceremony was attended by H.E. Humaid Mohammad Obaid Al Qutami, Minister of Education and Chairman of the higher Committee for the Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning program, H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Al Qamzi, Chairman of Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, H.E. Dr. Abdulqader Ibrahim Al Khayat, a member of the higher Committee for the Program and Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the ICT Fund, and Mr. Mohammed Ghiath, Director General of the Smart Learning program. The event was also attended by members of the Program’s Executive Committee and local and regional media representatives.
The agreement was signed by H.E. Humaid Mohammad Obaid Al Qutami, Minister of Education and president of the Higher Committee for the Smart Learning program and H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Al Qamzi, Chairman of Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and on behalf of the ICT Fund.
The Smart Learning team recently completed its development plan phase with the addition of 14 schools in its second phase to its network which also included extensive evaluations. As part of the process, the team performed a number of visits to countries with distinguished experience in the field of smart learning such as South Korea, Australia, UK and Turkey. In cooperation with the UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, the Smart Learning team is working to equip schools with smart devices such as computers and tablets, smart boards for classrooms, high-speed Internet, in addition to the development of an advanced network information centre.
The second phase of the program will include integrating 30 classes, 800 students and 80 teachers across eight schools within the Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program network.
As per the agreement, the funding provided for the Smart Learning program will be used with the aim of developing an advanced learning environment in public schools through the launch of “smart classrooms”, which will provide every student with interactive learning tools, computers and high-speed Internet in order to improve the educational system in the UAE and keep pace with the latest global developments in education.
The Smart Learning program was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in April 2012. The Program aims to create a generation conversant with technology and actionable innovation, in addition to providing access to smart digital apps world and cloud computing. The Program’s main objectives are to encourage the integration of teachers, students, parents and administrators within a unified electronic platform, to change the 20th century traditional methods of teaching to an interactive one, and to create a student-oriented educational system that identifies students’ particular learning styles, intelligences, strength and weakness and enhances their skills according to their abilities.
Commenting on the agreement, H.E. Humaid Mohammad Obaid Al Qutami said: "The UAE's efforts to achieve global competitiveness in education is in line with the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Smart Learning initiative, which is one of the leading projects adopted by the Ministry of Education to help achieve the strategic goals of the initiative. . The funding agreement signed today will enable the Ministry and the ICT Fund to upgrade the educational system to a globally competitive level by establishing ‘smart schools’, which use the latest technology tools and innovations..”
On his part, H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Al Qamzi pointed to the importance of this agreement, which emphasized the commitment of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and the Ministry of Education to developing the education sector in the UAE under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai who appointed the TRA to be one of the Ministry’s partners together with the ICT Fund in order to oversee the development of the education system and its outcomes, and to empower smart learning in phases across UAE schools.”
H.E. Dr. Abdulqader Ibrahim Al Khayat stressed the importance of the funding agreement at this stage to ensure the continuity of the development of the educational process by providing the latest technologies across UAE schools to keep pace with global changes. He also emphasized the importance of the ICT Fund’s partnership with the Mohammed bin Rashid Smart Learning Program team, to enhance the educational capacity of the UAE society by means of providing access to modern technologies. H.E. Dr. Al Khayat also pointed out that The Smart Learning program objectives reflect the vision of the wise leadership in the UAE to utilize the country’s potential in order to achieve “UAE Vision 2021”.
The implementation phases of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning program will be completed by the higher Committee and the Executive Committee of the Program and in partnership with a number of major global smart learning systems providers over the next five years.
The preliminary phase of the Program was launched in September 2012. This phase is divided into three sub-phases. During the first sub-phase, extending until July 2013, teachers will be provided with training and support to develop and maintain world-class standards in communication and technical expertise. During the second sub-phase students will be provided with smart devises, laptops and tablets, which are used in delivering the e-curricula. In the final sub-phase wireless connections and other electronic networks will be deployed to enable the free flow of interactive content through the four components of the education equation: students, teachers, administration and parents. The preliminary phase will be followed by the application phase – September 2013 to July 2016. The application phase will be followed by the follow-up phase, which will ensure a continuous re-evaluation and updating to all the Program elements.
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