UAE heritage and culture to be integrated into classroom teaching

In science, technology, English, Arabic, maths, Islamic studies and social studies, teachers will have to develop lesson plans that connect the subjects to the UAE.

ABU DHABI // Public and private schools in the emirate will be required to integrate elements of UAE heritage, history and culture into various subjects as Abu Dhabi Education Council rolls out the Haweyati (My Identity) Programme next academic year.

As such, teachers will have to develop new lesson plans for science, technology, English, Arabic, mathematics, Islamic studies and social studies.

“This national identity programme is a pride and joy,” said Dr Ali Al Nuaimi, Adec’s director general. “It will increase the dedication and love pupils feel towards the nation and towards the emirate of Abu Dhabi.”

The programme focuses on culture, language, history, values, citizenship and community. This week, Adec will begin distributing four manuals to schools outlining how the programme can be introduced over the next three years.

The manual uses the Sheikh Zayed Mosque as an example to illustrate how the programme can be taught in an interdisciplinary manner.

In English class, pupils may work on reports about mosques; in technology class, pupils can produce live internet streaming from the mosque to their peers in school; in science class, pupils can study the programme’s environmentally-friendly aspects; in maths class, the lesson might involve measuring sections of the mosque; in Islamic class, they would learn about the value of mosques.

Adec last year enlisted 50 private schools to take part in the programme’s pilot. About 300 teachers and school leaders participated in workshops and attended a forum to help them roll out the programme in their schools.

Matthew Woodhead, head of pre-prep at Brighton College, said the pilot gave schools clear guidance on achieving the objectives. “We have always given substantial thought as to how we integrate UAE culture, customs and values into our curriculum,” he said.

“We take the view that any local links should go far beyond tokenism and should add real value to students’ learning.”

As part of the pilot, Brighton College launched a “project palm tree”, which looked at using palm trees as a theme for various subjects.

“The response from teachers has been very positive, with many appreciative of the value of such a programme and of the ease of the materials, which will help them to ensure that they are delivering it effectively,” said Mr Woodhead.

“All teachers who I’ve spoken to understand the value of a programme such as this in keeping alive local values and customs in such a diverse community.”

Next academic year, all private schools and elementary public schools will adopt the programme.

In the next two years, it will be extended for public school ­pupils from grades six to 12.

“We hope that we are enforcing the national identity,” said Maryam Al Ali, a manager of the school improvement division, who is overseeing the project.

“There is a mission for the programme – to strengthen national identity among locals and to gain respect from non-locals. This is what we are hoping for.”