‘Excel and make it to the top’: UAE leaders wish pupils well
▶ Mentoring and ‘friendship benches’ will help international pupils to deal with the shock of a new school today
Leaders of the UAE have urged pupils to seize the chance to excel in their education as more than a million children begin the new school term today. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said dreams began in classes as young people prepared themselves for the world.
“Tomorrow, we start our academic year and carry on the million students’ journey in our land,” Sheikh Mohammed wrote on Twitter.
“My words to them are this: your school builds you so you can build your country; it gives you knowledge so you can give us your hard work; from your classrooms our dreams will begin; and on your notebooks you will outline the future of your country.
“With you the homeland rises, so make your schools a homeland for you. May God guide you and bless you.” Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, said on Twitter that young people must aspire to more than just “passing by”.
“A new school year filled with positivity,” he said. “My children, be determined to obtain knowledge and commit to good morals and ethics. Continue your educational journey with all seriousness and hard work, as our goal is no longer to pass only but to excel and make it to the top.”
Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, wished pupils well on an exciting journey.
“I wish all students a fresh learning journey, full of passion for knowledge and discovery,” Sheikh Hazza told the state news agency Wam.
Sheikh Fatima, Mother of the Nation and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, urged pupils to work hard and be diligent.
‘’Nations make progress by the rapid progress achieved in education, knowledge and scientific research as these constitute the building blocks for the present and future,’’ Sheikha Fatima told Wam.
‘’High-quality education and provision of world-class, advanced learning methods and tools are among the top priorities of the leadership.”
For thousands of youngsters, the dreaded first day back at school is tough – even with the familiar comforts of home.
But for those who have travelled thousands of miles to a school in a new country, coming to grips with the changes can be daunting.
This weekend, teachers and child psychologists in the UAE outlined some practical steps parents can take to ease any anxiety today.
They said good communication with children was key, and play dates and other social activities were a great way to make a new environment feel less alien.
“I’ve seen so many teenagers saying they’re finding it difficult as they’ve just moved to UAE,” said Dr Haneen Jarrar, a child psychologist at Camali Clinic in Dubai.
“We see a lot of this because Dubai is such a transient city. We have so many children arriving and leaving here all the time. The UAE is often very different from what they’re used to in terms of climate, culture, school and language.
“And we get a lot of children who feel anxious, which can turn into depression. So it’s important for parents to know what the signs are and to spot them early.”
More than half a million children in the UAE begin the new school term today.
In Dubai, about 280,000 pupils from 182 nationalities will be dropped off at the gates of almost 200 schools, while in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra, 241,000 children will make their way to class.
Dr Jarrar said the most important thing for parents was to talk to their children about their new life abroad as openly as possible.
Showing them pictures of their new school before they go could help, as could giving them favourite toys or other familiar objects to take with them on their first day.
“If a new child is joining a school, some have a buddy system or a weekly session with a counsellor,” Dr Jarrar said.
“In a buddy system, you pair the child with another pupil so that they can show them around. If this child is bullied the buddy can inform the school.
“Every school should do this because it’s a transitional time and it’s important the child feels welcome and secure.”
Dr Jarrar said that schools needed to be proactive when welcoming international pupils. She promoted ideas such as friendship benches where children who are feeling anxious can go to find help, advice or just someone to play with.
Alice, a mother of two originally from Toronto, described the difficulties her family faced during their recent move from Hawaii last week. Her daughters, aged nine and 11, are due to start term at a school in Dubai today.
“Every child is different about starting a new school,” Alice said. “My older daughter is very excited but my younger one hates the idea of having to make new friends.
“It would help if I could connect with a family that has children in school, but there is no information about this.”
She and her husband had rented a house close to the school as part of their plan to help their children adapt. She also contacted school authorities about after-school programmes, but was told no information was available until the term started.
“That shows me that they are not prepared,” Alice said.
She said a week of afternoon activities before the start of term would help pupils acclimatise and meet classmates.
“My younger daughter is entering Grade 5. The best thing for her is to know I am around when she starts,” Alice said. “My elder daughter will go to Grade 7 and she keeps telling me, ‘Change is good, Mum’.”
“They have one day for the new children to meet, but that’s not enough.”
Brendon Fulton, principal at Dubai British School, said families making their first move abroad could find it hard to adapt.
Mr Fulton said his school ran a peer-mentorship programme, where new pupils were looked after by existing groups of friends. Each pupil also has an initial session with a school counsellor.
“For schoolchildren, the prospect of making new friends can be really daunting,” he said.
At Gems Wellington Academy in Al Khail, Dubai, more than 150 new pupils will start today. The school has more than 1000 pupils from 80 countries.
Neil Matthews, principal of the academy, said frank conversations between parents and school were critical to detecting anxiety in children early.
Mr Matthews said pupils were often overwhelmed by the size of a new school and the unfamiliarity of language barriers could also prove distressing.
“We’re used to children joining from different parts of the world,” he said. “Knowing the pupils and understanding when and why they’re anxious is important.
“Language barriers may also affect them. Pupils have to get used to a new culture and may have to study new subjects. If your child is anxious when they come home, speak with the school. Little worries, if picked up on time, won’t grow into bigger worries.”
It’s a transitional time and it’s important the child feels welcome and secure DR HANEEN JARRAR Child psychologist at Camali Clinic in Dubai