Emirati women, a driving force in the UAE’s development

Since its union 42 years ago, the UAE has always regarded women as a vital part of society and an important driving force of the country.

Giving them equal opportunities as their male counterparts, the UAE encourages women and allows them to become leaders and contributors to the country’s development and prosperity.

Though Emirati women have proved themselves in all fields, their contributions to education have undeniably been one of the most effective to the country’s development.

In light of the 42nd national day celebrations, Gulf News spoke to Emirati Fatima Al Merri, CEO, Dubai School Agency (DSA) of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) to highlight her achievements in the UAE’s education sector.

Award-winning teacher and school principal Fatima, who started her career in education 22 years ago as a teacher in Dubai, now holds a key role in the education sector where she is tasked with monitoring the performance of Emirati students studying in the private sector.
Commenting on the upcoming national day, Fatima said that the UAE has witnessed tremendous developments, growing from seven separate emirates to a unified nation that has become one of the busiest business and tourism destinations in the world.

“One of the greatest things about the UAE is the lack of boundaries and barriers between the rulers and the people. The government is accessible and supportive to the local population, providing education, financial aid and assistance in finding future careers.”

Recalling one of the opportunities provided by her country, Fatima said: “I felt most proud in 2007 when I was appointed to be one of the nine ladies of the Federal National Council. Not only was this the first year that half the seats were elected, it was also the first time women had participated in the Federal National Council.”

According to Fatima, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) had a vital role in the development in Dubai’s education sector since its launch in 2006. She added that these developments are vital because as the country develops greater demand for high quality education will be needed.

“Since KHDA’s launch Dubai witnessed the opening of 39 new schools, providing places for a further 53,000 students. The number of schools rated as good or outstanding has hugely increased and we’ve seen a positive response from schools following inspections.

“We estimate that 70 additional or expanded schools will be opening in Dubai over the next five years, with capacity for 90,000 pupils. Our overall mission is to ensure every child in Dubai has access to high-quality education.”

Fatima said that she aims to pay back her country through sharing her knowledge in the field of education.

She also called on future Emirati generations to give back to their country through loyalty and hard work.

“To maintain the unity we have achieved together, future generations of Emiratis must remain loyal to their country. We will continue to build on the hard work of previous generations, always striving to be the best.”

Gulf News Read More: http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/education/emirati-women-a-driving-force-in-the-uae-s-development-1.1259463