A focus on teachers’ training to equip educators with digital tools will be the feature of programmes over the next two months to mark International Literacy Day on Friday.
Technical and vocational projects have been planned this month in Sharjah, Dubai and the capital to use technology as part of creative approaches to teaching in a digital world.
To commemorate International Literacy Day on September 8, programmes next week in Dubai and Sharjah will focus on the UAE’s commitment to addressing challenges in the education sector and understand the link between the socio-economic development of a country and its educational priorities.
The education affairs office of the Crown Prince’s Court of Abu Dhabi will host the second edition of Qudwa, the global teachers’ forum, next month that will bring together more than 800 educators from 65 countries.
Qudwa means 'role model' in Arabic and this year’s forum with the theme ‘Teaching for tomorrow,’ will examine educational trends being shaped by the global digital economy, according to Wam, the state news agency.
The forum is being organised under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Speakers will include Julia Gillard, the former Australian Prime Minister of Australia.
Muhamed Khalifa Al Nuaimi, director of the education affairs office at the Crown Prince's Court of Abu Dhabi, said the forum was part of plans to transform the education sector by preparing teachers to understand and adapt to the changes in their profession.
Workshops and teachers’ lab sessions will pinpoint the anxieties educators struggle with and alternative approaches to traditional classroom teaching as part of overall attempts to inspire teachers.
Other sessions aim to help teachers improve teaching methods and emphasise the importance of values in the classroom.
Mr Al Nuaimi said Qudwa 2017 would “seek out new ideas and new approaches while remaining true to traditional values,” and aimed to bring together teachers from across the world to discuss best practices and shared experiences.
The day was also celebrated under the theme ‘Literacy in a digital world’ at the Unesco headquarters in Paris on Friday looking at skills people require in an increasing digitalised world, understanding policies required to explore opportunities and improve livelihoods.
This year’s Unesco international literacy prize awards will be awarded to initiatives in Jordan, Pakistan, China, Columbia that promoted reading and literacy with digital libraries and training.
