‘Don’t add rugby to school curriculum’

A member of the Federal National Council (FNC) yesterday questioned the move to introduce rugby in UAE’s national school curriculum. Salem Ali Al Shehi, a member from Ras Al Khaimah, said rugby is a dangerous sport. “The Ministry of Education should have instead added or focused more on cooking or other classes required by students and parents,” Al Shehi said.

Jameela Al Muhairi, Minister of State for Public Education, told the House 60 per cent of countries have rugby in their school curricula. She added rugby is now a part of physical education curriculum as the country looks to develop Emirati talent in the sport. In January, the Ministry of Education published a rugby workbook and trained more than 400 teachers in a one-day training programme as part of an agreement with the UAE Rugby Federation. There are 16 rugby clubs in the UAE.