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Education minister for creative reforms in schools

Education Minister Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi urged schools to embrace creativity and participate actively in the reform process set underway by the ministry.

Dubai - A symposium hosted by Emirates Scientific Club highlighted the need to have a concept of creativity for an inclusive development of the educational institutions.

Addressing the symposium, Education Minister Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi urged schools to embrace creativity and participate actively in the reform process set underway by the ministry.

Al Hammadi said the Ministry of Education is working on sustained efforts to develop the concept of creativity within a strategic framework and a supportive environment.

Highlighting the initiatives launched by the ministry in this direction, he pointed to the development of innovation based curricula, the creation of robotics labs in schools, and the inclusion of innovation as a criterion in the evaluation of schools in the UAE.

The ministry’s plan for the years from 2015 to 2021 focuses on the development of international and national tests, the development of institutional innovation and creation of modern infrastructure in schools such as smart classes, added the minister.

Dr Eesa Bastaki, president of University of Dubai and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Emirates Scientific Club, described innovation as the development of processes and innovative products for the benefit of human beings and the society.

“Institutional creativity is based on creativity within each individual who works for the benefit of those institutions,” he added.

Dr Bastaki said the slogan ‘Made in UAE with International Standards’ remains the goal of creativity and innovation in the country.

The symposium concluded with a number of recommendations, including the need to focus on creativity from the kindergarten level, encouraging teachers to be creative so as to be role models for students.The symposium also called for allocation of one per cent of the budgets of private and public institutions on creative programmes to achieve the ultimate goal of making products of global standards and quality in the UAE. - muaz@khaleejtimes.com