Young Palestinian author hopes future readers won't believe her book is real
A haunting diary of survival, The Eyes of Gaza is a book that Plestia Alaqad hopes coming generations will find unimaginable
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Khaleej Times
6 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Award-winning principal urges parents to boost reading habits among children
After winning the Best Principal Award at the ADEK Awards 2025, Lee Dabagia of Summit International School in Abu Dhabi, actively called for parental involvement in reading and AI responsibility among students. An overwhelmed Dabagia, who is a seasoned educator from Indiana, USA, attributed his win to the unwavering dedication of his teaching team. Speaking to Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the event, Dabagia said, 'My advice to parents is limit their screen time at home, make sure there is a library of something to read at home. We surveyed our parents and realised there's not enough reading materia l in their houses... give them a book. It's simple, but true,' urging families to steer their children away from excessive screen time. Dabagia, who moved to the UAE 12 years ago and brings over 30 years of experience in education and administration, expressed deep concern about the impact of AI and social media on student learning. He noted that the examination season is increasingly complex due to students' ability to access AI tools even within 'lockout browsers.' 'We are trying to teach our students respect, responsible use of AI... I'm hoping that as we use that model, use it for something more productive and practical, our students will kind of dovetail with that and understand, that this is a tool that can make my life easier, but it's also a tool that I need to respect,' he explained. Disruptive role of social media Beyond AI, Dabagia emphasised the disruptive role of social media in education and student well-being. 'Trying to balance our students to authentic learning... Accessing curriculum and putting the social media aside for a time is a big challenge for us,' he said. 'Students are in the privacy of their rooms, but they don't understand how dangerous it can be... so we have spent a lot of time teaching them about that responsibility.' The annual awards event, organised by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), celebrated outstanding contributions across the emirate's education sector. This year, over 33 educators, schools, and initiatives were honoured across 30 categories, with more than Dh7 million awarded in prize money. 'There are basically multiple award categories. Some are individual, and then there is a program award categories and standardised benchmarks... We received more than 500 submissions altogether,' said Mariam Hallami, Executive Director of Nurseries and spokesperson for Early Education Initiatives. Expanded categories Notably, this year featured expanded categories, including artificial intelligence, anti-bullying, inclusivity, and student well-being. 'What was different this year is the expanded, new categories... schools did more programs and initiatives to kind of try win this award,' Hallami added. 'So, the award is not just for an outcome, but it encourages schools to adopt new programs and expand their impact.' Among the notable winners were Al Huiteen School in Liwa, which earned the Best Anti-Bullying Programme Award. 'As part of our anti-bullying initiative, we've implemented a school-wide programme that focuses on instilling core values in students. By strengthening relationships between peers, students, and teachers, we've fostered a sense of accountability and mutual respect. This has played a crucial role in the success of our anti-bullying efforts and ultimately helped us earn this award today, ' said Liaili Abu Rumman, a social worker and instructor at the school. Meanwhile, The British International School Abu Dhabi secured the Best Parental Engagement Award, winning Dh100,000. 'We've got a really clear ethos... a genuine home away from home for our community,' said Aine McGlue, Head of Secondary. 'We have run parent events such as (different) tools around the city to help parents connect. We have parent heads meetings regularly, which is where they get to come in and meet with the senior leadership team, and we explore initiatives together. Many ideas are generated from the parent community. So for example, if Internet safety or certain aspects of wellbeing are on the parent community's mind, that will drive our agenda. We then action plan together. We come up with 'you said and we did approach' where they know that their (parents) decisions and input is actually driving forward improvements across. This prize money... will go straight back into the community to look at how we can develop and grow our current offer.'
Khaleej Times
8 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Hamriyah Port fire: Sharjah Crown Prince honours teams that put out blaze
The Crown Prince of Sharjah honoured the Civil Defence teams in battling the Hamriyah port fire, a video by Sharjah media showed on Tuesday. The massive fire broke out on May 31 at the Hamriyah Port in Sharjah, which took 24 hours to bring under control. The fire has been described as one of the largest industrial blazes in the emirate in recent years. In the video uploaded by the emirate's media office, the heroic firefighters can be seen fighting the flames and securing the area. While honouring relevant teams, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, thanked them for their efforts. He said in the video, "We thank you deeply for what you have done. I would say that even if we had planned a drill, it wouldn't have come out with this level of quality or precision. This is clear evidence — praise be to God — that all the agencies in the UAE are prepared and possess high efficiency in handling such incidents." Watch the video below: Multiple authorities came together to put out the blaze that could be seen from neighbouring emirates. Sharjah Civil Defence deployed advanced firefighting equipment including foam tankers and high-capacity water pumps. The Sharjah Civil Aviation Authority and the Sharjah International Airport Authority provided aerial surveillance using helicopters and air jets to assess the spread and intensity of the fire. Meanwhile, Municipal teams from Sharjah and Al Hamriyah supported the operation by supplying water tankers and logistical support. Sharjah Police cordoned off the surrounding areas, evacuated nearby buildings, and managed traffic to ensure public safety.
Zawya
14 hours ago
- Zawya
Sharjah Education Academy joins World Education Research Association as Institutional Member
Sharjah – Sharjah Education Academy (SEA) is proud to announce its acceptance as an institutional member of the World Education Research Association (WERA), a prestigious global network dedicated to advancing educational research, policy, and practice. SEA now joins a select group of only five global institutional members, significantly expanding WERA's presence in the Middle East. This strategic membership further enhances Sharjah's growing reputation as a hub for academic excellence and educational innovation by fostering collaboration among institutions, researchers, and thought leaders. It is expected to contribute to the development of a robust academic framework that promotes high-quality education, research initiatives, and innovative pedagogical practices. 'We are delighted to be welcomed into this esteemed global network dedicated to advancing Education, research, and policy. This membership marks a significant milestone in our journey to position SEA as a leading center for educational excellence and innovation, not only within the region but also on the international stage. We are committed to actively contributing to WERA's vision by promoting rigorous research, meaningful dialogue, and impactful collaboration across borders,' said H.E. Dr. Muhadditha Al Hashimi, President of Sharjah Education Academy. From her side, Professor Pauline Taylor Guy, Chancellor of Sharjah Education Academy, stated: 'Through our membership in WERA, we reaffirm our commitment to contributing to the global education dialogue, supporting rigorous research, meaningful exchange, and impactful collaboration. We view this opportunity as a bridge between Sharjah and the global academic community, enabling us to amplify the voices of educators in the region and co-create solutions to today's most pressing educational challenges.' As an institutional member of WERA, Sharjah Education Academy is expected to play a key role in shaping global education discourse by initiating and supporting collaborative research projects, participating in international symposia, and contributing to cross-cultural academic exchanges. SEA will actively engage in WERA's governance and research networks, offering insights from the region while promoting evidence-based practices and policies. Through this partnership, SEA aims to amplify the voices of educators and researchers in the Arab world, bridge global knowledge gaps, and help co-create innovative, equity-driven solutions to the most pressing challenges in education today. With this membership, SEA reaffirms its commitment to fostering an inclusive, research-driven educational environment that cultivates future-ready educators and enables transformative learning experiences throughout the UAE and beyond. Founded in 2009 in San Diego, California, WERA is a global alliance of national, regional, and international research associations focused on advancing education research as a scientific and scholarly field. Its members collaborate to build global capacity, influence education policies, and foster the use of high-quality research to inform practice and decision-making in diverse educational contexts. About Sharjah Education Academy Sharjah Education Academy continuously seeks strategic partnerships with leading local and international institutions and academic experts to achieve its objectives. With such partnerships it guarantees developing educators through diverse and innovative academic programs based on scientific research and access to global competitiveness in education. And by raising the level of teacher performance, student outcomes will advance to a new level of talents and qualified capabilities to meet the aspirations of the wise leadership to draw a road map for a brighter future. About WERA The World Education Research Association (WERA) is an association of national, regional, and international specialty research associations aimed at advancing education research as a scientific and scholarly field. Established on April 18, 2009, in San Diego, California, WERA aims to undertake initiatives that are global in nature and thus transcend what any one association can accomplish in its own country, region, or area of specialization. Member associations are resolved to work together to address such issues as building capacity and interest in education research, advancing education research policies and practices, and promoting the use and application of education research around the world.
