Moral education will help shape students’ characters

Focus on ethics in school curricula is in keeping with UAE’s core of tolerance, goodwill and respect

The UAE has always stood for equality and tolerance. When fellow nations have faced a crisis, it has rushed aid. The UAE spreads goodwill and understanding. Morals and ethics have played an integral role in the remarkable development of the country since its birth in 1971.

Now moral education is to be introduced in school curricula as a mandatory subject across the UAE. The directive was issued by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed forces. The subject will focus on teaching five key elements — ethics, personal and community development, culture and heritage, civic education and human rights and responsibilities.

The decision to introduce moral science in schools is crucial because it will inculcate in children ethics and respect for others, which is a key in today’s world. It will help build a society that is responsible and will contribute to the betterment of this world.

At a time when we are seeing many societies troubled by several issues, ideological and economical, the UAE has taken special care to educate children on what is right and what is wrong. This will lay the foundation of a strong society capable of meeting challenges that may arise in the journey to further progress. Children are the future of the nation and hence special care must be taken to nurture them into responsible members of society. This will only happen if there is a conscious effort to educate them on core values and beliefs.

The decision to include moral education in school curricula has once again shown that the leadership in the UAE places tolerance, respect, ethics and charity as integral factors in the country’s core.