The Digital School, one of the initiatives of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation, in cooperation with the Government Knowledge Exchange Office in the UAE government, and the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development in the Republic of Seychelles, launched a new phase of the teacher preparation program in Seychelles, to build the capabilities of about 100 male and female teachers from 11 schools in the field of digital education.
The program aims to enable teachers in Seychelles to employ modern digital education tools and technologies in the educational process, bringing the total number of beneficiaries of digital school programs in Seychelles to 395 teachers.
The new phase embodies the school’s efforts to promote digital transformation in the education sector in Seychelles, by expanding the application of an integrated model that combines practical training and flexible digital learning, ensuring the transfer of knowledge in an applied and sustainable manner, and contributing to building educational capabilities capable of keeping pace with the rapid transformations in the education sector.
Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Government Knowledge Exchange Affairs, Mohammed bin Taliah, stressed that the cooperation embodies the approach of the UAE government and is part of its efforts to enhance international cooperation and exchange of government knowledge, and to support initiatives to develop education, digital transformation, and build capabilities in partner countries, explaining that the program contributes to transferring Emirati experiences and expertise in the fields of digital education and human development.
He said that the Government Knowledge Exchange Office is keen to promote meaningful partnerships that contribute to bringing about positive change in the performance of vital sectors that serve society and enhance the quality of life, pointing out that the UAE government has modern and pioneering digital educational experiences that represent a model that inspires many governments.
For his part, the Secretary-General of General Education and Curriculum in the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development in the Republic of Seychelles, Dr. Justin Zelem, stressed that the launch of digital school programs represents an important and timely step within the national efforts to enhance the quality of education by using technology effectively and enabling students to acquire the necessary skills for the future.
He said: “We value this partnership with the digital school, which is based on a shared vision that aims to bring about a real transformation in the education system, by providing integrated digital learning environments and educational content compatible with the curriculum, in addition to supporting teachers through advanced professional development programs, which contributes to expanding educational opportunities and reducing educational gaps.”
In turn, the Secretary-General of the Digital School, Dr. Walid Al Ali, stressed that the expansion of teacher training programs in the Republic of Seychelles comes within the efforts of the Digital School to enhance its global impact, based on the belief that the teacher is the cornerstone of any sustainable educational transformation.
He said that the school is working through this partnership to provide teachers with digital skills and tools that enable them to employ modern technology effectively within the classroom, which contributes to developing the quality of education and enhancing students’ readiness for the requirements of the future.
The program comes as part of the Digital School’s efforts to build teachers’ capabilities and enable them to employ modern digital education tools and technologies, through the “Digital Teacher Global Academy” (DEGA), which is one of the largest multilingual digital teacher preparation initiatives in the world, as about 40,000 male and female teachers in more than 40 countries have benefited from it, through training programs offered in seven languages: Arabic, English, French, Spanish, Kurdish, Portuguese, and Indonesian.
The program includes implementing a foundational “guidance” course, which focuses on enabling teachers to use the digital educational platform, learn about the mechanisms for accessing educational content, and successfully complete digital learning requirements, thus enhancing their readiness for effective engagement in modern educational environments. The program also includes a second course entitled “Learning in the Digital Classroom within an Online Educational Environment,” which aims to develop teachers’ skills in managing digital classrooms and efficiently employing modern educational tools and techniques in the educational process.
The “Digital School” – launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, in November 2020, as part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s global initiatives – is the first internationally accredited digital school, aiming to provide flexible and smart educational options for less fortunate groups around the world.
The “school” has succeeded in reaching more than 850,000 beneficiaries in more than 40 countries, through educational programs and initiatives offered in seven languages, in partnership with governments, international organizations and international universities, and is academically accredited by the NEASC in the United States of America.
It is noteworthy that the UAE government launched the government knowledge exchange program in 2018, with the aim of transferring best government practices and expertise to countries around the world, and enhancing international cooperation in the areas of government modernization and development. He succeeded in building partnerships with dozens of countries to support institutional capacity building and government performance development.
• 395 male and female teachers, the total beneficiaries of the “Digital School” programs in Seychelles.
Muhammad bin Taliah:
• The “Program” strengthens partnerships and transfers Emirati experiences and expertise in the fields of digital education.
Dr. Justin Zelem:
• Launching the “Digital School” programs is an important step to enhance the quality of education in Seychelles.
