‘Success of anti-bullying programme demonstrates its functionality’

ABU DHABI: Reem Abdullah Al Falasi, Secretary-general of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood (SCMC) has said that Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the SCMC, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, is keen to provide students with the means of learning and calling for the creation of unique programmes to improve their thinking and way of life.

In a statement marking the start of National Bullying Prevention Week, Al Falasi said that the council’s bullying prevention programme for school students, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, was adopted by 64 schools and faculty including principals, academic supervisors and nurses.

She added that following its twoyear success, the council’s anti-bullying programme in schools adds further incentive to continue its implementation for the beneit of students. The SCMC cooperated with the United Nations International Children’s Fund, UNICEF, and the Department of Education and Knowledge, ADEK, along with many national authorities, to ensure effective implementation of the programme.

Alf ala si noted that the council reviewed 44 relevant international programmes and focused on 13 programmes to create a special programme for the UAE, in cooperation with international experts, as the irst programme of its kind in the Arab region. The Ministry of Education on Sunday launched the National Bullying Prevention Week campaign, under the patronage of Sheikha Fatima and in cooperation with the council, with the participation of over 20 local and federal authorities. The campaign aims to raise awareness about bullying in the UAE. Throughout the week, a group of teachers, experts and trainers will visit public and private schools and highlight various topics related to bullying.

While chairing the 23rd meeting of the Education and Human Resources Council, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said that the campaign is in line with the UAE’S leadership vision to follow the footsteps of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who provided the entire community with the means of a decent life, drafted laws to care for children and enshrined them in the UAE constitution.