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Al Etihad
3 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Ministry of Education announces full readiness for academic year 2025-2026, removes centralised tests at end of second semester
19 Aug 2025 18:54 ABU DHABI (WAM) The Ministry of Education (MoE), in cooperation with the UAE Government Media Office, held a media briefing in the presence of Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education, to outline its key preparations and development plans for the academic year 2025–2026, in line with national briefing was also attended by Mohammed Al Qassim, Under-Secretary of MoE; Sulaiman Al Kaabi, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Professional Development Sector; and Amna Al Saleh, Acting Assistant Under-Secretary for the Curriculum and Assessment Sector, along with representatives of local media Amiri confirmed that since January, the MoE has been developing proactive plans to ensure public schools' readiness for the academic year 2025–2026, covering all aspects from facilities to advanced curricula. She noted that this year will introduce qualitative updates to boost the competitiveness of national education, including fundamental changes to the assessment tests at the end of the second semester have been removed and replaced with school-based summative assessments, with centralised tests remaining only in the first and third semesters. The new system optimises school days, diversifies student performance assessment tools, enhances learning quality and teaching methods, promotes student wellbeing and adjusts semester weights in line with the updated Amiri highlighted the approval of the second phase of the project-based learning and assessment (PBLA) system, now covering all Cycle 2 students in public and private schools applying the MoE follows the success of phase one, which engaged 127,500 students across 350 also noted the development of the national testing system through a new standardised proficiency test to measure Arabic, English and mathematics skills for grades 4–11 in public schools, with the first phase expected to include 26,000 Amiri reiterated the Ministry's focus on strengthening national identity through Arabic language and Islamic education as the foundation of student character. The new plan increases teaching time for both subjects in kindergarten and dedicates daily hours for Cycle-1 students to reinforce Arabic reading and writing, achieved by redistributing class periods without extending school Arabic baseline assessment will also be introduced in Grade 1 across 100 public and private schools to establish standard levels, enabling tailored support programmes to enhance linguistic skills and steadily raise proficiency, reflecting the Ministry's commitment to placing national identity at the core of operational readiness, Al Amiri announced the opening of nine new schools across several emirates, which will welcome over 25,000 students, supported by more than 800 new teachers. More than 460 schools have been maintained and equipped, 5,500 buses allocated, more than 10 million textbooks printed, and 47,000 laptops Qasim highlighted the Ministry's efforts to enhance students' quality of life through the new Physical Education, Sports and Health Programme in public schools. The first phase of the initiative promotes a healthy, sustainable lifestyle by improving school health environments, organising sports tournaments, restructuring PE classes, and introducing healthy Qasim reiterated the Ministry's continued commitment to partnership with parents and educational cadres, emphasising their important role in shaping the national education system. This year, a participatory educational vision was developed to enhance their involvement in part of this, Ta'aleem Councils are being restructured: the School Leadership Council will have 14 members, the Teachers Council 14 members, and the Young Teachers Council seven members. Additionally, 520 Parents' Councils, representing 6,140 members nationwide, will be activated to contribute to MoE decisions and announced the MoE's educational campaign, 'From Skill to Leadership,' engaging educators, parents and the community. The campaign aims to develop students' skills and transform them into achievements through three pillars: exploration, creating inspiring school environments to discover talent; development, enhancing skills via strategic partnerships and advanced training; and excellence, encouraging participation in local and international programmes will launch in the first month: 'My Inspiring Family' involving parents, and 'Inspiring People in the Field,' both designed to motivate students on their educational MoE confirmed that the coming academic year will see the introduction of its nationally developed Artificial Intelligence (AI) curriculum – the first of its kind in the UAE – providing lessons from both local and international communities on integrating AI into education. Approximately 1,000 teachers will implement the curriculum across all grades, aiming to prepare students to use AI responsibly and effectively in daily and future initiative will offer practical insights on harnessing AI in education, helping to shape local educational policies and contribute to the global discussion on the future of Ministry of Education continues to enhance the capabilities of its educational cadres through advanced training programmes. More than 23,000 educators participated in a specialised training week, totalling around 170 hours across 40 workshops for leaders and teachers and 20 workshops for support positions. In the next academic year, the Educational Competency Assessment Project will target more than 12,000 cadres across kindergarten and Cycle 1 levels and 11,000 cadres across Cycle 2 and Cycle 3 in order to define clear career paths and empower staff in line with national education system requirements.
Emirates Woman
a day ago
- Emirates Woman
How I got my job as... the founder of fine jewellery label Sapfira
This week, we speak to Valeria Hordiyenko, founder of fine jewellery label Sapfira. Up and coming, the brand's specialty lies in reinventing the notion of a fine jewellery brand and adding their twist to it. Welcome to the Emirates Woman weekly series 'How I got my job as…' where we speak to some incredible entrepreneurs and businesswomen both based in the UAE and globally to find out about their career paths that led them to where they are now; what their daily routines look like; the advice they'd give to those starting out; and the hurdles they've had to overcome. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Valeria (@sapfira_vh) This jewellery brands marries the exclusivity of a traditional fine jewellery brand with cool silhouettes and cuts, making each of their pieces one of a kind. To delve into her journey, Emirates Woman sat down with Valeria to see how it all began. What was your favourite subject at school? English was definitely my favorite subject. I've always had a natural interest in languages and feel grateful to have had the opportunity to start learning them at an early age. I now speak five languages, which has helped me greatly in connecting with people from different cultures. What was your first job? My first job was an internship at a jewelry company based in Monaco while I was studying at the Gemology School. I was responsible for managing the stock of jewelry and gemstones. This experience allowed me to apply my gemological knowledge in a real-world setting and deepen my understanding of the industry beyond the academic side. What brought you to Dubai? Dubai is a vibrant hub of luxury, innovation, and diversity. I was drawn to its international energy and appreciation for high-end design. It's a place where art, fashion, and business intersect—which makes it a natural fit for Sapfira and for me personally as a designer and entrepreneur. What inspired you to enter the design and jewellery space and launch Sapfira? My journey started with a fascination for gemstones—their stories, their energy, their uniqueness. Over time, I realized I wanted to create more than custom pieces; I wanted to build a brand that tells a story. That's how Sapfira was born. It's a way to merge my gemological background with a bold, artistic vision of modern luxury. Talk us through the concept. Sapfira is about contrast: futuristic forms and traditional craftsmanship, cold aesthetics and emotional storytelling. Our current collection, Mercurial, is inspired by the fluidity and power of mercury. The jewelry is designed to be sculptural, statement-making, and timeless—crafted from Silver 925 and natural or lab-grown stones. Every piece invites the wearer to stand out and express individuality. What are the key elements of your role? As a founder and designer, I wear many hats. I'm involved in every aspect—from creative direction and product development to marketing and brand storytelling. I also work closely with our artisans in Thailand and our clients around the world. Maintaining quality and vision across every detail is essential to me. Talk us through your daily routine. No two days are exactly alike, but I usually start my day with sport. Then I switch to creative work: sketching, planning new collections, or working on campaigns. I also spend time engaging with our community online and researching new ideas and inspiration. Later in the day, I try to unwind a bit by doing a simple home routine and spending some quality time with my family—it helps me stay grounded and balanced. What advice do you have for anyone looking to follow in your footsteps? My advice is: make sure you truly love what you do. Don't just follow trends or do something because it looks glamorous from the outside. When you genuinely enjoy your work, you're willing to give it your time, energy, and attention—and that's what helps you grow and create something meaningful. Passion is what keeps you going, even during the most challenging moments. Tell us more about Sapfira and its launch. The goal with Sapfira was to introduce something different, every piece is designed to make a statement without saying a word. It all began with custom creations—unique, personal designs that reflected individual self-expression. Over time, the brand evolved with the launch of our collection, which continues to carry that spirit of individuality, but with a clear aim: to stand out from the crowd and offer something that feels truly distinctive. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? I think the best advice I've ever received is never stop learning. In our fast paced world, it's so important to stay curious, keep evolving, and remain open to new ideas. Being aware of how the world is developing and growing along with it allows you to stay relevant, inspired, and ready for what comes next. And what is the worst? I can't recall a specific piece of bad advice, but I think the worst kind of advice would be to 'play it safe' or 'stick to what's already working.' If I had followed that, I wouldn't have taken the risks that led me to where I am today. Growth often comes from stepping into the unknown, experimenting, and doing things differently—even if it's uncomfortable at first. What's the biggest challenge you have had to overcome? One of the biggest challenges I've had to overcome was moving to another country at a young age and building my life from scratch here in France. I came to study and was full of excitement—I wasn't afraid of the unknown, but looking back, it was definitely a major challenge. Adapting to a new culture, language, and lifestyle pushed me to grow quickly, and it shaped the person I am today. What's the future of the brand? We're growing organically but with ambition. Sapfira will continue expanding internationally. New collections are coming, and so are new ways to connect emotionally with our audience. The future is bold, just like our jewellery. – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram Images: Supplied & Feature Image: Supplied
Broadcast Pro
3 days ago
- Broadcast Pro
Red Sea Fund 2025 invites submissions for fourth cycle
The deadline for submissions is August 21, 2024. The Red Sea Fund, an initiative of the Red Sea Film Foundation, has opened applications for its fourth 2025 cycle, inviting filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Africa and Asia to apply for post-production grants. The deadline for submissions is August 21. This funding round is dedicated to projects that have completed filming and are entering the post-production stage, covering essential processes such as editing, colour grading, sound design, mixing and other technical elements required to finalise a film for festival screenings or distribution. Since its launch in 2021, the Red Sea Fund has backed more than 280 film projects, many of which have gone on to win critical acclaim and prestigious awards at major international festivals. Eligible projects must be feature-length fiction, documentary, or animation films with a minimum runtime of 60 minutes. The director must be of African, Asian or Arab nationality or origin, and applicants must submit a complete rough cut of the film, at least 60 minutes long, via a private online viewing link. Non-English dialogue must be subtitled in English. Applications must also include a range of mandatory materials, such as a logline, synopsis, chain of titles, final script or treatment, full budget breakdown, financial plan, post-production spending plan, project timelines, director/producer biographies, a mood board and a release and distribution strategy. Only complete online applications submitted according to the form's requirements will be reviewed. Applicants will be notified of the Red Sea Fund Committee's decision approximately ten weeks after the closing date. The committee's decision is final and will not be accompanied by feedback. Selected projects will receive an official letter outlining the amount of financial support and next steps. Successful applicants must confirm acceptance within the specified time and sign a post-production funding agreement within four weeks of acceptance.
