I refer to the article Innovation to be part of curriculum (November 24). This would only work in practice if administrators centrally were not in charge of designing the curriculum. After all, if they are not in the classroom, they are unaware of the students' current capabilities nor are they aware of the ever-changing technological advances or the 21st-century skills students need to be equipped with for jobs that may not exist today, but will by the time these students graduate.
The UAE is one of the largest consumers in mobile technology. In my opinion, this should be turned around so that it is creating, designing and developing future apps/ programs to meet this nation’s future needs.
Coding must be introduced in higher education. However, for all of this to be achieved successfully, many educators and students alike need to develop a different mindset. Without this, innovative ideas may well be announced, but they are unlikely to be followed through as many students do not seem to comprehend that the learning process itself is just as important if not more so than the final goal.
So unless educators with a fixed mindset can evolve into a more expansive one, I fear it will not be possible to nurture the same within their students, which ultimately will impede both innovation and entrepreneurship in future generations.
Name withheld by request
Change habits, not speed limit
I refer to the article Anti-speed campaign to cut Dubai road deaths (November 23). They reduced speed on the Dubai-Al Ain road, but it seems it just made it worse. Everyday I hear about an accident.
Ahmed Albaidhani, Dubai
Many people are killed and injured not because of speed but because of bad driving.
Giles Heaton, Dubai
We are bullied even if we obey the rules. Arrest speeders and make them realise that speeding and bullying other drivers is not tolerated.
Carla Botha, Abu Dhabi
It is time to recognise that “hours of service” among taxi drivers are an important contributing element and asking anyone to be on the road 12 hours a day, seven days a week, is a risk to everyone. Driver fatigue and micro-sleeps are a root unreported factor in many of these accidents.
Robert M, Dubai
No need to panic here
Regarding the news report US citizens in UAE told to 'exercise caution' after recent terror attacks (November 24), why create panic where there is none? If there is one place in the world that is safe, it's the UAE. So I request Americans to stop spreading panic.
Luca Cima, Abu Dhabi
Isn’t this a bit awkward? What about other people? There are people from many other countries living here and it would be an appeal to all of them to be alert.
Hasan Kato, Dubai
I am sure the US Embassy isn’t the only one to have issued an alert this month.
Thomas Mnt, Dubai
We all feel safe in the UAE and yet we should all exercise caution. That doesn’t mean it isn’t the US Embassy’s job to warn US citizens. Certain things are out of the Government’s control and we should all take precaution. Meanwhile, other embassies have issued similar warnings.
I don’t understand why your newspaper only reported the US Embassy’s advisory. What I know is that it isn’t only Americans’ problem.
Patricia Cooksey, Abu Dhabi
Hats off to the US Embassy. They are simply taking care of their citizens.
Daisy Tito, Abu Dhabi
