The Investment Bank offers more than 120 grants to support early childhood education
Sharjah, February 15 / WAM / Yesterday, the Investment Bank signed a memorandum of understanding with the Sharjah Education Academy, to support the development of educational personnel in the early childhood stage by providing scholarships worth one million dirhams.
The memorandum was signed, during the activities of the fifth edition of the Sharjah International Education Development Summit, by Idris Al-Rafi, CEO of the Investment Bank, and Professor Pauline Taylor Guy, Director of the Sharjah Education Academy.
The grants aim to enable early childhood teachers and leaders to benefit from high-quality professional learning opportunities, enhance their teaching practices, and contribute more effectively to the development of children during their first formative years. They are consistent with the general objectives of the summit, which focus on enhancing cooperation and achieving comprehensive improvement at the level of the educational system and directing investments towards strategic priorities in the education sector.
Dr. Muhadatha Al Hashimi, President of the Sharjah Education Academy, said that the partnership between the Academy and the Investment Bank continues to grow and expand its impact, noting that expanding the scope of these grants embodies a shared belief that enhancing the quality of early childhood education begins with investing in educational personnel who constitute the child’s first educational experiences.
She added that, through this initiative, the Academy is working to expand access to high-quality professional development programs based on scientific research in a way that provides leaders and teachers with the skills, knowledge and confidence necessary to bring about real improvement in their classrooms and at the level of the educational system as a whole.
For his part, Idris Al-Rafi stressed that investing in early childhood education is a direct investment in the future of society and its economy, and that the Investment Bank believes that building generations begins with empowering educators and knowledge makers in the early stages of education.
He added that this initiative represents an extension of the bank’s commitment to creating a sustainable impact, enhancing the quality of education, and contributing to achieving the UAE’s vision of developing human capital and creating a more prosperous future.
The specialized certificate program in early childhood education for leaders and teachers, accredited by the National Qualifications Center, aims to build an integrated system to develop professional competencies in this sector in line with the latest educational standards.
The program focuses on developing innovative teaching methods to enhance learning the Arabic language, building national identity, aligning curricula with the UAE’s values and vision for early childhood, in addition to creating professional learning communities that bring together teachers and stakeholders in the early education sector.
The programs were designed in cooperation with the University of Helsinki in Finland, based on the latest research in the field of early childhood education. It provides leaders and teachers with the best educational practices and practical training to build twenty-first century skills.
Sharjah Education Academy took responsibility for Arabizing the program content and customizing it in line with the needs of the educational system in the UAE.
The programs are also offered with a flexible learning system and in both Arabic and English, allowing those enrolled to obtain their specialized certificates within four months and in a manner consistent with their professional and practical obligations.
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