REVIVING EDUCATION SECTOR

Ed4.0, brainchild of Naida Kardas and her husband Charif Hamidi, has offices in Morocco and the US and is soon to begin operations in Dubai. “During our first project, we had a mobile school that drives to the rural areas. We run accelerated programmes that focused on closing gaps. In Morocco, we focused on math and science. The country ranks 73 out of 76 in OECD’s PISA testing (Programme for International Student Assessment). We took similar version to Bosnia and impacted some 100 kids. And now the Moroccan government has reached out to institutionalise the programme. We are working on the development of the programme for 6,000 children and 100 teachers in rural areas,” Hamidi said.

“It costs an average $44,221 to educate a child. Education hasn’t been so expensive. We researched for innovative methods on how to break free from high-cost education models. We worked on the research project for a year. We couldn’t have done it in a better place than the UAE. This is a unique place where innovation and excellence meet transformation and tradition,” said Hamidi, who grew up in a family of teachers.

“Ed4.0 is an education innovation social enterprise that leverages technology to empower youth. We use technology and the Internet to help educate underprivileged children and youth. We develop their creativity, cognitive skills, and design and systems thinking, and prepare them for future labour markets.”