ABU DHABI // Children from 18 schools will take part in a reading aloud competition that organisers hope will change their attitude towards books.
Grade 5 pupils will be judged as they read short passages from Arabic texts in several rounds of competition. The winners will be determined at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair in March.
The event is sponsored by Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (Adach), Abu Dhabi Education Zone (Adez), and Kitab, the organisers of the book fair.
"We want to move children away from the idea that reading is only done on a solitary basis and it has to be boring and serious. We want them to enjoy reading aloud to each other and to engage the whole family in the activity," said Dana al Sarraj, the manager of the competition.
"We believe to bring people back to the book, we have to remind them that books are great."
Participants will read aloud for two to three minutes in front of a panel of judges. They will be rated on the tone of their delivery and their reading technique. The panel will also determine how well the child understands the context of the passage by asking how it relates to the rest of the book.
"We want them to see the importance of engaging in the entire story, not just the portion they choose to read," Ms al Sarraj said. "Plus, we want them to be able to entertain their audience."
Mohammed Salem al Dhahiri, the director of Adez, said the competition would enhance the education system. "[We want to] help nurture a new generation committed to and capable of supporting the continued success of the emirate's development and growth," he said.
The opening round will begin this morning, when 55 participants will be selected for the second round later this month. The field will be whittled to 20 for the third round, and five finalists will be selected to attend the last round at the book fair on March 6. The three best readers will win a collection of 12 books and a voucher to further boost their libraries. The overall winner will receive an additional prize and the chance to be on the judging panel in next year's competition.
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Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
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