Sheikh Nahyan advocates universal right to education

Dubai - The festival saw over 100,000 global innovators, academicians, faculty, change-makers, vice chancellors, educationalists, teachers, students, parents, scientists, and policy makers under one roof.

The Culture & Knowledge Ministry of UAE and the Government of Rajasthan, a western state in India, have agreed for an exchange programme or partnership at the 'Festival of Education' organised in Jaipur, India. The UAE-based GEMS Education and the Government of Rajasthan had organised India's first 'Festival of Education' between August 5-6, 2017.

The festival, organised as a result of the collaboration between the UAE based GEMS Education, the world's largest private K-12 school education provider, and the Government of Rajasthan, has been incepted to celebrate the future of education, facilitating knowledge exchange and exploring a new world of possibilities for education in Rajasthan and the "New India" with clear actions and solutions.

The festival saw over 100,000 global innovators, academicians, faculty, change-makers, vice chancellors, educationalists, teachers, students, parents, scientists, and policy makers under one roof, united by the same goal - to give shape to the future of education through discourse, discussion and debate.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, UAE, as the guest of honour and the keynote speaker at the Festival of Education delivered a keynote address. He highlighted that every child should have the right to an education, citing the key role it plays in the personal and social development of any human being, enabling children to acquire knowledge and skills, to help define their future. He mentioned that for the proper development of any country, it was imperative that every child, regardless of their gender or social background, should have equal opportunities in exercising their right to learn. Education has the potential of enabling the world to end all economic inequalities and discriminations.

He called upon parents and the entire society to join the governments in ensuring children receive a quality education to provide a greater platform for the overall development of the young next generation.

Chief Minister of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje said given the geographical and demographic circumstances of the state of Rajasthan, providing quality education to children in the State was a big challenge. Accepting this challenge, her government brought major changes in the educational set-up and made it learning based. The efforts are helping talented students to obtain opportunities of higher studies in medical, engineering, law, management and other such disciplines. These subjects were basic to the development of humanity, she added.

Representing GEMS Education at the Festival of Education Amreesh Chandra, Group President, GEMS Education, India said "We are proud to present the Festival of Education. An initiative powered by GEMS for the Government of Rajasthan that is aimed at taking the education ecosystem of the country to the next level. India is now the new intellectual capital of the world and within that Rajasthan is poised to be the knowledge hub."

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