In an effort to further strengthen communications with stakeholders, the Mohammed bin Rashid Smart Learning Programme, MBRSLP, held its annual Principals' Day, now in its second year, on August 25th and 26th at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City. A total of 208 schools, which are now part of the programme, attended.

The two-day event provides a platform to open dialogue between the programme's management team and school principals, with the intended result of fostering a professional culture that promotes the continuous renewal of educational methods and tools to better serve students.

This year, Cycle 3 schools will begin implementing the programme across Grade 10 classrooms. MBRLSP is working tirelessly towards the completion of infrastructure provisions for Cycle 2 students, which include Grade 7, 8 and 9 students. Principals from Cycles 2 and 3 took part in this collaborative event which embodies change and improvement to raise the standards of education in the UAE to meet international standards.

The role of principals within the programme is to promote creativity in students, value their opinion and empower them to express themselves to reach their highest potential, both academically and personally. In order to reach this goal, the collaborative culture of the programme creates a shared sense of purpose, focus on long-term improvement of education in SLP schools and offers a platform for principals to share ideas, materials, and solutions.

"The two day event helps us work closely with the school principals and work out issues inside the classroom. Professional dialogue and team work are vital to the success of the programme and we encourage cooperation in improving the integration of technology in our educational processes," said Mohammed Gheyath, Director-General of the MBRSLP.

"The MBRSLP enriches the experience of teachers, students, school administrators and parents alike. The highly interactive environment has dramatically changed how teachers interact with students and promotes a flexible learning environment. Our students now have resources at their fingertips and no longer need to be solely dependent on their teachers. The programme has also helped school administrators assess their teachers' performance, teaching plans and students' performance in a more effective way, whilst allowing parents to watch their child's progress," said Noora Al Muhairi, Principal, Umm Suqeim Model School for Girls.

"We have organised workshops for all teachers and students involved in the MBRSLP, and anticipate that the programme will be highly successful in the classrooms where it has been implemented. All our students now have access to the necessary educational resources on their favourite smart devices. We expect the programme to broaden students' horizons, facilitate knowledge acquisition, and stimulate creativity, building a generation of innovators," said Walid Nasser, Principal, Mohammed Al-Fateh Model School in Sharjah, commenting on the expected numbers for the new scholastic year.
Source: WAM