The Smartest Path

His Highness Sheikh Khalid approves Educational Changes

 

By saying no, the United Arab Emirates Federal Government has said yes.  It is a commendable decision for the educational community in Ras Al Khaimah and all the other Emirates.

 

Let me explain.

 

The Ministry of Education has determined that remedial courses taken by most first-year Emirati university students will be discontinued.  That makes sense to me.  In the 21st century, university students have little time for remedial work after high school.  The new disciplines that will shape the future -- in science, technology, aerospace, computers, energy – will all demand more time, study, research and expertise. 

 

Universities can no longer afford the time to make sure students know that 1+1=2 and English is the world’s language of science and commerce.

 

That is the job for grade school educators, which is the true thrust behind the Federal Gvernment’s declaration.

 

For U.A.E. students to hold their own in the world, they must be competitive with the best that other countries have to offer.  If U.A.E. students are still learning multiplication tables while Chinese, Russian, French and American students are discovering cures for disease and new green technologies, guess who gets the best jobs?

 

But for U.A.E. university students to compete for better jobs, grade schools must do a better job preparing students for university.  Eliminating remedial classes from university sets a high bar of expectation and education.  It also sends a powerful message – to parents, students and their teachers.

 

We can no longer afford to coddle children through grade school.  With the world growing more complicated and sophisticated by the day, our students have to be ready for university when university is ready for them.

 

If we fail, our country is the worse for it.  The Federal Government has taken a bold step.  It is up to all of us – parents, students and teachers – to take on the challenge.  It is the smartest path to the 21st century.

 

His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Saqr Al Qasimi
Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler
Ras Al Khaimah