The pandemic led 192 countries to close schools and universities, affecting almost 1.5 billion school-aged children and youth, accounting for over 90% of the world's student population. 60 million instructors had left the classroom. In these extraordinary circumstances, the UAE leadership responded immediately by taking appropriate actions and directing education and academic institutions to use a distance learning approach as an alternative to schooling, while maintaining the health and safety of students and the school community. https://www.kidskingdom.ae/nursery-in-discovery-gardens.php

1. THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE
UAE: A MODEL FOR OTHER
COUNTRIES TO FOLLOW
The pandemic led 192 countries to close schools and universities, affecting almost 1.5 billion
school-aged children and youth, accounting for over 90% of the world's student population.
60 million instructors had left the classroom. In these extraordinary circumstances, the UAE
leadership responded immediately by taking appropriate actions and directing education and
academic institutions to use a distance learning approach as an alternative to schooling,
while maintaining the health and safety of students and the school community.
1.2 million students in the UAE were able to complete their education easily and safely
because to the UAE's Ministry of Education's devotion and commitment. The Ministry's
distant learning strategy has shown to be a productive and enriching experience for
students, teachers, and parents. The UAE has become a role model for other countries
around the world due to its cutting-edge technological infrastructure and flexibility in
developing proactive solutions and keeping up with changes and emergencies.
As an example of how a government entity and a philanthropic organization can collaborate
to improve community well-being, the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with Dubai
Cares, has successfully launched "Education Uninterrupted," a nationwide campaign aimed
at addressing the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the education of children and youth in
the UAE. The campaign asked the UAE community to contribute monetary and in-kind
donations in support of children and teens from low-income households who cannot afford
ICT gear and tools, such as laptops and computers, so that they can join their peers in
pursuing their education from home. I am confident that this good example of synergy has
been seen in other areas where various stakeholders have worked collaboratively to mitigate
the impact of the pandemic.
We particularly commend the efforts of the 42,000 UAE teachers who continued to provide
high-quality education to pupils despite the COVID-19 outbreak, joining doctors, nurses, and
medical personnel as the community's first line of defense during these vital times. They
have demonstrated commitment and decisive action in addressing the effects of COVID-19
on education and defending all UAE students' right to uninterrupted learning.
The UAE's leadership's vision for the future has made the country's education system
sustainable and resilient, with thousands of students not falling behind and missing a single
day of their academic year. With developments accelerating around us, it is critical that we
as a nation prepare for the coming years, as 2020 is the year of planning for the next 50
years. We must generate transformations, solve growing difficulties, revitalize ideas, and
assure a better future for our present and future generations during the next five decades.

2. There is little doubt that the pandemic's path has had a profound influence on all sectors of
the global economy. The COVID-19 pandemic is, first and foremost, a significant health
issue; yet, the pandemic has not affected all families worldwide in terms of health. On the
contrary, the interruption to education has had an influence on practically every home in the
world.
The rapid spread of COVID-19 has highlighted the significance of creating urgent measures
to reduce the pandemic's impact on education, so that education systems around the world
are better prepared to respond to large-scale disruptions in the future.
This pandemic has not only shook the entire world, but it has also jolted UN institutions and
global financial mechanisms into acting rapidly to defend education, the most essential asset
and investment for the future. UNESCO established the Global Education Coalition for
COVID-19 Response to give nations with rapid and coordinated assistance, ensuring
minimal disruption to education and that no child falls behind. UNICEF's Generation
Unlimited initiative to increase digital connectivity and provide equitable access to remote
learning for all children and youth around the world will also play an important role in
decreasing the growing inequality caused by a lack of digital connectivity. Dubai Cares is
honored to have been chosen to participate in these efforts and to help shape these two
platforms. For Dubai Cares, a global philanthropic organization that devotes more than a
third of its programming to maintaining the continuity of learning, internet connectivity is
critical to preserving the continuation of learning.
As the UAE continues to play a pivotal role in redefining education, I would like to thank our
wise leadership and the UAE Government for ensuring a sustainable learning process
across the country, as well as the teachers, students, and parents who have played an
important role in the successful results achieved thus far through the distance learning
system.