MOE and Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee – Abu Dhabi to promote Emirati heritage in educational curricula
Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates, 23 May 2023: The Ministry of Education (MoE) announced a partnership agreement with the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee – Abu Dhabi, to promote collaborative efforts between both entities and to further enrich educational curricula with cultural and heritage values and topics. The agreement aims to promote the UAE’s position as a leading cultural center through creating programmes and activities that reinforce its educational, cultural and heritage standing in the region. The announcement was made as part of the Ministry’s wider participation in the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, which is being held from May 22 to May 28 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).
The agreement was signed by His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Education, and His Excellency Major General Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Commander-in-Chief of the Abu Dhabi Police (ADP) and Chairman of the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee – Abu Dhabi, in the presence of senior officials from both parties.
Commenting on the partnership, His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening students’ sense of belonging, national identity and their pride in their Emirati heritage. His Excellency indicated the Ministry’s aim to cooperate with entities from the public and private sectors to launch programmes and initiatives that promote the values of loyalty to the UAE and its leadership among students, while also encouraging them to celebrate their national culture.
“We are proud to belong to a country with a longstanding legacy and a universal message, and we are keen to enhance our students’ knowledge of these values, so that they can continue to build on the UAE’s progress and preserve its culture and heritage for generations to come. As such, our cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee echoes our commitment to enriching educational curricula, and to launch programmes and events organised and supervised by the Ministry of Education to highlight key elements of our culture,” His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, added.
His Excellency Staff Major General Pilot Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Commander-in-Chief of Abu Dhabi Police, Chairman of Cultural Programs and Heritage Festivals Committee, emphasized that the signing of the memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Education is a continuation of the joint efforts made by the two parties to preserve the foundational pillars on which the national identity and its authentic elements are based upon. Building upon the remarkable success of the ‘Emirati Sanaa’ program implemented in public and private schools, this collaboration reflects our continued joint efforts to promote societal values, principles, rules, and the cherished national identity of Emiratis.
Furthermore, he highlighted that this memorandum will foster collaborative cooperation in safeguarding our beloved heritage and enriching educational curricula and programs with Emirati culture, folklore, and Nabatean poetry. It will also serve to enhance awareness of Emirati heritage among students across all educational levels, which ensures the consolidation of societal values and fosters educational, cultural, and heritage integration which is a vital catalyst for the societal development and the preservation of moral virtues and positive behaviour. These aspects are integral components of our cultural heritage, fortifying the values established by our wise leader, who have been succeeded by our wise leadership.
As part of the partnership agreement, both parties will be focusing on five key areas, the first of which is joint work to enrich educational curricula with Nabati poetry. The second focuses on organising cultural and educational events including trips, festivals and book fairs. The third area involves initiatives pertaining to publishing and the inclusion of cultural and poetry publications as part of educational resources. The fourth area pertains to student competitions and initiatives to explore and nurture creative talent in the fields of poetry and folklore. The last area focuses on supporting local and federal educational institutions to implement the national culture framework in schools from kindergarten to the third cycle.