What UAE's new reading law means to Dubai students

As the UAE's 'Year of Reading' moves into its final two months for 2016, the country has just vowed to promote reading for life.

On Monday, the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, issued a first-of-its-kind reading law.

But what does this mean for schools in Dubai?

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Clive Pierrepont, director of communications at Taaleem, hailed the move, but said schools have "not yet been briefed" on the law. So the question now, is how to implement it effectively.

"The challenge for schools and indeed all those involved in education is how they should translate the law into reality."

According to His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, educators will now be tasked with developing thorough, yearly plans focused on reading.

"The Law requires schools to develop an annual plan to encourage reading among students", he tweeted from his official handle, @HHShkMohd.

But with government leaders and entities already having placed reading "at the forefront of their priorities", Pierrepont said the wheels are already in motion to ensure this law is successfully implemented.

"They have launched a large number of monetary and motivational incentives to encourage students to become life-long readers and therefore life-long learners. We think the majority of schools do a great job already encouraging reading, both for research and pleasure."

This is the first time a country has come up with a law on reading, and for Dr Ashok Kumar, CEO at Indian High School Dubai, it will require some tweaks in schools' budgets.

"Our institution looks forward to being an active catalyst in this noble enterprise. It is our aim to revise and enhance our budget for the same in the near future," Kumar said.

He said the importance of reading will be emphasised through "presentations in assembly and through mails to parents" as well as through the establishment of more "reading-based competitions".

Sir Christopher Stone, CEO, Gems Education, said it looks forward to continuing to promote a healthy respect for books. "This is a sign that our country is absolutely on track to achieve its 2021 Goals. We are excited by the opportunity to re-emphasise reading in our schools."

In his tweets, Shaikh Mohammed also emphasised the importance of "donating and re-using books", which is something Rafia Zafar Ali, Principal of Leaders Private School Sharjah, will be putting into action.

"We plan to reuse books by launching a campaign titled 'I donate a book' in which every student will contribute one used book to his/her class."

What education authorities say:

Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi, UAE Minister of Education, hailed the importance of the new Reading Programme as a giant step leading the cultural role of the UAE. "The new law emphatically links reading and education together as a unified power to achieve knowledge leadership and change towards a sustainable knowledge-based economic society, in line with the core indicators of the National Agenda and the UAE 2021 vision," Al Hammadi said.

Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director-General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority said: "The National Law of Reading represents an important step forward in our journey to become a nation of progressive, informed and well-developed individuals. By encouraging reading from an early age, we will work towards creating a generation of young learners who value the importance of reading. This is especially important for schools and universities as it will contribute to learning and encourage students, parents and teachers to spread the love for reading."

kelly@khaleejtimes.com 

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