UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited the headquarters of the Ministry of Education (MoE) in Dubai today, accompanied by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

On arrival Sheikh Mohammed was received by Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Education Humaid Mohammed Obeid Al Qattami and several education officials.

Beginning his visit, Sheikh Mohammed inspected a number of fully equipped school buses to ensure that they were in good condition to provide for students' comfort and safety during transportation to and from school.

Sheikh Mohammed was briefed by the Minister of Education on the UAE Federal Transport Corporation's role in kitting out and providing more than three thousand school buses, in addition to another six thousand vehicles that the establishment supplies to other ministries and government bodies.  Al Qattami also spoke about the transport corporation's organisational structure, which boasts over ten thousand employees, having been formed in 1981.  

During a meeting in the ministry's conference room, Sheikh Mohammed was further briefed on the MoE's plans and preparations for the upcoming school year as the country's educational institutions ready themselves to accept more than four hundred thousand students. Al Qattami outlined his ministry's proposals for curriculum development, and informed Sheikh Mohammed that over four and a half million textbooks are ready to be distributed to students on September 7 this year. 

The minister also told how, with the support of the UAE Cabinet as well as President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, over 50% of textbooks are expected to be published within the state by 2021. The move is targeted at boosting national identity and establishing a sense of belonging and improving the connection to the UAE’s citizens and its traditions and culture.
Sheikh Mohammed ordered the education ministry to invest its e

fforts into better preparing student towards the end of their high school career to enter specialised university courses directly, rather than wasting valuable time engaged in preparatory courses.

After listening to plans to modernise and improve infrastructure and examination procedures at the country's schools, Sheikh Mohammed assured the education minister that he would throw his full support behind the nation’s teachers. He went on to express his willingness to listen to all opinions offered by ministry staff to boost education and teaching methods in the UAE.

Stopping in the ministry's lobby, Sheikh Mohammed met with a number of students who had won awards in sports and various disciplines. He congratulated them on their feats and thanked them for representing the country at regional and international forums. Sheikh Mohammed called on Al Qattami to increase his ministry's focus on building more sporting activities into the national curriculum to augment students' health.

Towards the end of the tour the education minister thanked Sheikh Mohammed for his visit and valuable input concerning education strategies, describing the visit as a source of pride from him and all staff at the ministry.