President Sheikh Mohamed on Monday paid a warm tribute to teachers across the UAE for their crucial role in "shaping future generations".
Marking World Teachers' Day, he said in a post on social media that the annual occasion served as an opportunity to celebrate educators for the "lasting impact" they have on the lives of pupils.
Sheikh Mohamed shared a picture of himself as a boy alongside a thank you note to his teacher from 1971 to highlight the enduring influence of educators in moulding young minds and unlocking the potential of the leaders of tomorrow.
"I dedicate my picture to the teacher Ahmad Ibrahim Mandi as a memento with thanks. Signed Mohamed Zayed," says the note from Sheikh Mohamed, then aged 10.
Fifty-five years on, the UAE President again paid homage to teachers for their contributions to the development of the nation. "On World Teachers' Day, I express my appreciation and gratitude to teachers across the UAE and commend their role in shaping future generations," Sheikh Mohamed wrote on X.
"Let this day be an opportunity for all of us to recognise our teachers and thank them for the lasting impact they have had on our lives."
World Teachers' Day – which is organised by Unesco – is held on October 5 each year to honour educators and recognise their contributions to education and society. The day also serves as a moment to reflect on the support teachers need to fully realise their potential, and to consider the future direction of the profession on a global scale.
Ruler of Dubai hails 'makers of generations'
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, also delivered a message of support to teachers, who he described as the "engineers of minds".
He shared a letter to the nation's teachers from his new book, The Letters, a collection of 26 pieces of writing from the Dubai Ruler. "A message to the makers of generations and engineers of minds, a message to those to whom we owe the dignified life we live," Sheikh Mohammed wrote on social media.
"To those who created engineers, doctors and leaders, to those who instilled values and spread knowledge and illuminated homelands with the light of science. A message to those from whom we learnt in the early years of our lives how to think, how to decide, and how to live, and whose impact remained with us throughout our lives. To you, I write this message."
Sheikh Zayed paved way for education development
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, said that "every great future begins with a teacher". He reflected on how UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, laid the foundations for education in the country.
"The story of education in the UAE began with the firm belief of my father and teacher, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan, that the human is the foundation of every advancement, and that education is the light that guides a person along the right path in life," Sheikh Mansour wrote on X. "Today, our teachers carry this message forward, nurturing our children’s knowledge, ambition and confidence. Every great future begins with a teacher."
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and chairman of the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council, said World Teachers' Day offered a chance to express gratitude to those guiding future generations.
“Teachers have played an enduring role in the UAE’s journey, leaving an impact that carries from one generation to the next and instilling the value of knowledge and learning," he said.
"On World Teachers’ Day, we renew our appreciation for every teacher whose dedication has contributed to preparing generations who carry forward our nation’s ambitions and shape its future.”
Investing in the future
Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education, said teachers had been instrumental to efforts to "transform ambition into achievement" since the formation of the UAE.
"Today, with the acceleration of transformation and the growth of our nation's ambitions for the future, the role of the teacher is renewed to remain at the heart of our national vision for education," she wrote on X.
"From the founding generation, to the present generation, to the generations of the future, the impact of the teacher remains enduring in every stage of the UAE's journey. To every teacher, male and female, thank you for your giving, for your mission and for your ongoing contribution to building the individual, the society and the homeland."
