Schools are preparing to re-open around the world. AFP
Schools are preparing to re-open around the world. AFP
Schools are preparing to re-open around the world. AFP
Schools are preparing to re-open around the world. AFP


Pupils the world over need our solidarity


Sonia Ben Jaafar
Sonia Ben Jaafar
  • English
  • Arabic

January 24, 2022

As we mark this International Day of Education, it is a moment to honour our education professionals, our institutions of learning, and our young people who actively participate to benefit from high-quality education in all its forms. As stated by the late Nelson Mandela, “young people must take it upon themselves to ensure that they receive the highest education possible so that they can represent us well in future as future leaders”.

Education is the engine of development; it changes the lives of young people for the better by unlocking their potential to go on and fulfil their aspirations. By creating ladders of opportunity through education, we empower a generation to raise their ambition, enabling them to become responsible citizens who contribute to the growth of their communities, their nation and the world.

Sadly, far too many young people around the world are unable to access these opportunities. They are unable to benefit from education due to multiple reasons including the digital divide, migration and socio-economic conditions that act as barriers to their success. Today, the disheartening reality is that over 250 million children and young people do not attend school. Without education, we know that this can have a devastating impact on their life chances in the future, with many being trapped in poverty or low-paid employment. More must be done to ensure opportunity for all.

On this day, we must renew our collective commitment to revive and revitalise education that is more sustainable, equitable and inclusive.

With clear certainty, education plays an essential role in addressing many of the global challenges that the world faces today. These challenges were in stark focus last week as Expo 2020 Dubai hosted the Global Goals Week in association with the UN. This being the “Decade of Action”, as proclaimed by the UN General Assembly, to achieve its Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, the global community feels an elevated sense of urgency to deliver through impactful and practical action. The Covid-19 pandemic has intensified the need and the drive to not only make progress, but to do so with additional bolder action.

Last week, the second cohort of Global Councils for SDGs launched with an emphasis on accelerating progress. Through the UAE’s leadership, an additional eight new councils were established that joined the existing 10 in place. As chair of one such council, I am responsible for integrating the goals through what is called the Nexus approach, which is focused on the interlinkages between the goals and their targets.

It is inspiring to see the nation’s participation in introducing innovative models that actively align with the UAE’s national SDG implementation journey. Be it the newly launched SDG Youth Programme or Nomu, an initiative by the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education, they will provide a pathway for the sustainable enhancement of talent and capacity building of the UAE youth, as we embrace the benefits of an increasingly digital future.

There was a surge in remote learning during the pandemic. Reuters
There was a surge in remote learning during the pandemic. Reuters

If there is one thing that we have learnt during this crisis, it is that education systems can move fast to adapt and change. The large-scale remote-learning experience opened the door to more digital transformations and, at the same time, exposed glaring shortcomings in the readiness of systems to assure access for all learners to high-quality education. This contrast presents us with the opportunity to help bridge the educational gaps exacerbated by the pandemic and build resilient and effective equitable education systems. These systems are designed to ensure that students have the digital tools and resources to learn anytime and anywhere, and where teachers have the right skills and support to guide those students on their learning journeys.

We are all trying to find our ways to meet the needs of a fast-changing world. This critical juncture calls for education systems to adapt, transform and rewire to assure that young people are learning those skills necessary for a sustainable future in a digital age. The implications of these changes demand innovative and disruptive models of education, which, in turn demand sustainable and innovative financing that will assure education for all.

According to a study conducted by International Finance Facility for Education, $75 billion a year is needed to put the world’s children back on track for universal education. This will not be possible if our agendas don’t align as a global community. Our strength at the Abdulla Al Ghurair foundation is our solidarity; shedding the silo model, as we focus on multi-sectoral partnerships. This approach has galvanised support from partners as a result of which we almost doubled our targets with the Abdul Aziz Refugee Education Fund, an initiative the foundation looks after, and managed to help over 38,000 young people gain credentialled education and hope for a better future.

This International Day of Education calls for humility as we embark on a path that is unknown. The reality is daunting. There are millions of young people, whose future is dependent on leaders from a variety of sectors engaging with others so that we can embrace the never-ending change and thrive together. In 2021, we have been challenged to think differently, work differently and live differently. As we look forward, we will need to educate differently so that all young people will be ready to compete in the global marketplace as job seekers and job creators. They are the ones who will drive the progress that our world needs so that we can, hopefully, celebrate more robust and prosperous communities, thriving economies, and inclusive societies.

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

Brief scores:

Day 1

Toss: India, chose to bat

India (1st innings): 215-2 (89 ov)

Agarwal 76, Pujara 68 not out; Cummins 2-40

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Francis%20Lawrence%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3ERachel%20Zegler%2C%20Peter%20Dinklage%2C%20Viola%20Davis%2C%20Tom%20Blyth%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Kanye%20West
%3Cp%3EYe%20%E2%80%94%20the%20rapper%20formerly%20known%20as%20Kanye%20West%20%E2%80%94%20has%20seen%20his%20net%20worth%20fall%20to%20%24400%20million%20in%20recent%20weeks.%20That%E2%80%99s%20a%20precipitous%20drop%20from%20Bloomberg%E2%80%99s%20estimates%20of%20%246.8%20billion%20at%20the%20end%20of%202021.%3Cbr%3EYe%E2%80%99s%20wealth%20plunged%20after%20business%20partners%2C%20including%20Adidas%2C%20severed%20ties%20with%20him%20on%20the%20back%20of%20anti-Semitic%20remarks%20earlier%20this%20year.%3Cbr%3EWest%E2%80%99s%20present%20net%20worth%20derives%20from%20cash%2C%20his%20music%2C%20real%20estate%20and%20a%20stake%20in%20former%20wife%20Kim%20Kardashian%E2%80%99s%20shapewear%20firm%2C%20Skims.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000

Engine 3.6L V6

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm

Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreated%20by%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJesse%20Armstrong%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Brian%20Cox%2C%20Jeremy%20Strong%2C%20Kieran%20Culkin%2C%20Sarah%20Snook%2C%20Nicholas%20Braun%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

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Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

ESSENTIALS

The flights 
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
 

The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

Major honours

ARSENAL

  • FA Cup - 2005

BARCELONA

  • La Liga - 2013
  • Copa del Rey - 2012
  • Fifa Club World Cup - 2011

CHELSEA

  • Premier League - 2015, 2017
  • FA Cup - 2018
  • League Cup - 2015

SPAIN

  • World Cup - 2010
  • European Championship - 2008, 2012
RESULT

Al Hilal 4 Persepolis 0
Khribin (31', 54', 89'), Al Shahrani 40'
Red card: Otayf (Al Hilal, 49')

Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

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The specs

Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors

Power: 480kW

Torque: 850Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)

On sale: Now

SPECS

Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now

MEFCC information

Tickets range from Dh110 for an advance single-day pass to Dh300 for a weekend pass at the door. VIP tickets have sold out. Visit www.mefcc.com to purchase tickets in advance.

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Scores in brief:

  • New Medical Centre 129-5 in 17 overs bt Zayed Cricket Academy 125-6 in 20 overs.
  • William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana 188-8 in 20 overs bt One Stop Tourism 184-8 in 20 overs
  • Alubond Tigers 138-7 in 20 overs bt United Bank Limited 132-7 in 20 overs
  • Multiplex 142-6 in 17 overs bt Xconcepts Automobili 140 all out in 20 overs
Sam Smith

Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi

When: Saturday November 24

Rating: 4/5

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

Tuesday (UAE kick-off times)

Leicester City v Brighton (9pm)

Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United (11.15pm)

Wednesday

Manchester United v Sheffield United (9pm)

Newcastle United v Aston Villa (9pm)

Norwich City v Everton (9pm)

Wolves v Bournemouth (9pm)

Liverpool v Crystal Palace (11.15pm)

Thursday

Burnley v Watford (9pm)

Southampton v Arsenal (9pm)

Chelsea v Manchester City (11.15pm)

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Updated: January 24, 2022, 5:13 AM`