Moral education to shape forward-looking youth
Never before has one curriculum represented such tremendous diversity and rich content.” Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education
dubai — Close to 1,500 school principals and administrators from various schools across the country attended the inaugural UAE Principals Symposium on Monday to talk about “moral education as a pathway to a more inclusive and equitable society.”
In his opening address, UAE Minister of Education Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi challenged the school leaders “to boost moral education to leverage the educational system and protect the students from all potential threats surrounding them.”
The Moral Education curriculum is aimed at encouraging students to be forward-looking, creative and respectful to everyone by creating a strong foundation of ethics, tolerance, civic duty and cultural diversity. It was launched in October 2016 and piloted in 19 schools of diverse curricula and nationalities in January. Full implementation will be done in all schools nationwide in September.
The curriculum is based on the four pillars of character and morality, cultural studies, individual and community, and civic duties. It has been designed as a progressive series of 65 units that will be taught over a six-week period through classes, activities and cultural events, for all students from Grades 1 to Grade 12. The curriculum was created by the Moral Education Committee which includes the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court, Ministry of Education, Abu Dhabi Education Council, Dubai Knowledge and Human Development Authority and Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority. “We are united in our commitment to prepare our youth to lead happy, healthy and productive lives while contributing to the greater good of a sustainable society,” Al Hammadi said. He also called the Moral Education curriculum the ‘minaret’ of the youth. “Never before has one curriculum represented such tremendous diversity and rich content to be so relevant to the future well-being of students of all nationalities.”
Jameela Salem Al Muhairi, Minister of State for Public Education, added: “We are putting the principals front and centre as the champions of our young people. They are in a unique position to engage teachers, students and parents and mobilise them around a programme that fosters universally relevant values of good citizenship.”
One pilot school implementing the new curriculum is The Philippine School (TPS) in Abu Dhabi. TPS principal Jonathan Esguerra, said: “We implemented one of the pillars — character and morality — five weeks ago and our initial assessment was that it enhanced our existing values education programme. What made the curriculum more relevant is that it cuts across cultural boundaries, especially in UAE which is a highly diverse country.” angel@khaleejtimes.com