Lughati, the Sharjah-based initiative, which has been supporting the smart way of learning Arabic via digital platforms across the emirate’s government schools since 2013, has launched two final phases (fifth and sixth) today (Tuesday), targeting 3,106 Grade 4 students from 31 government schools and 2,828 Grade 5students from 40 government schools in Sharjah and the Eastern Region, as well as 269 teachers.
Building on the success of the previous four phases, the initiative has distributed tablets to about 25,000 students and 1,000 teachers from 80 schools so far in both Sharjah city as well as the Eastern Region.
As part of precautionary measures against the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and in continuing its efforts to support distance learning, the initiative aims to assist students in learning Arabic in an interactive and fun way using the latest technology, from the safety and comfort of their homes.
The tablets are equipped with the updated version of ‘Horouf’, a smart application developed by Horouf Educational Publishing– a subsidiary of Kalimat Publishing Group, that aids students in accessing information provided by the Ministry of Education.
Badria Al Ali, Manager of the Lughati Initiative said: “The final two phases of the initiative reflect Lughati’s successful track record of over 7 years in instilling a love of Arabic in the hearts of children. It has so far supported 25,000 students and 1,000 teachers in Sharjah. We have succeeded in enhancing their Arabic skills by using interactive and innovative tools, while highlighting the beauty of this language that is a national treasure.”
“The continuing support by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has been instrumental in Lughati achieving its objectives. His Highness’s firm conviction that the Arabic language reflects our past and present and that by promoting it we help preserve our national identity and advance our culture and heritage, has been a great inspiration for us.” she added.
For her part, HE Fawzia Gharib, Assistant Undersecretary for School Operations Sector, UAE Ministry of Education, said: “Sharjah plays a key role in promoting smart teaching and learning of Arabic, thanks to the unstinting support of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi. His Highness believes that scientific and cultural progress depends on people’s mother tongue proficiency. Lughati seeks to emphasise on this aspect.”
“With the support and patronage of Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, this one-of-its-kind initiative to support the smart learning of Arabic, is promoting the UAE’s goals to develop an education system that enables its students to work towards securing a bright and stable future for themselves while contributing to national development,” she added.
“Sharjah plays a pivotal role in supporting the smart learning of our mother tongue Arabic, which helps link new generations to the past which is part of our cultural and intellectual heritage,” she noted.
Gharib pointed out that Lughati supports the Ministry of Education (MoE)’s distance learning initiative. It provides tablets enabled with the Horouf application to students in public schools across Sharjah to learn Arabic the smart way from home.
Lughati seeks to preserve and promote the Arabic language, keeping up to date by harnessing the latest technologies in education. Implemented from 2013-2016, the first phase of the initiative saw the distribution of tablets to 5,060 kindergarten students and 232 teachers. In the second phase, tablets were distributed to 2,959 Grade 1 students and 129 teachers in 49 schools, while the third phase witnessed the distribution of tablets to 2,951 Grade 2 students and 76 teachers. The fourth phase covered 2,568 Grade 3 students and 235 teachers in 48 schools.
