Dubai, May 19, 2008 - The Dubai Schools Agency (DSA) has launched its summer camp programme which will give 6,000 students the chance to take part in activities from diving to learning the Quran.
Called “Moltaqa Al Ma’arefa” (which means “a forum for knowledge”), the camp will take place at 10 centres across Dubai and is open to all youngsters aged 7-18 from public schools and UAE Nationals in private schools.
It is being run by the DSA, an agency of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, in co-operation with 190 partners from the public and private sectors and will have something for everyone, including the specially-gifted and children with special needs.
The camp begins on June 8 and last for six weeks. It will end with a ceremony on July 27 to honour everyone who took part, the organizers, and outstanding students.
The plans for the camp were outlined at KHDA’s office in Dubai Academic City yesterday (Monday). Fatma Al Marri, CEO of Dubai Schools Agency, said, “We promised last year that we will improve the quality and quantity of summer activities, and we are delivering what we promised by launching “Moltaqa Al Ma’arefa”.
“This is a step towards creating an attractive environment for our students to invest their time doing something both useful and entertaining. We hope it will help them develop their skills and talents, as well as building their character. These young people will play an important role in the development of UAE.”
She added, “I would like to invite all parents to enrol their children in this camp, and I would like to assure them that all activities are designed with the safety and well-being of their children at heart. Their children are our children, and are our responsibility when they are with us.”
The activities will take place at 10 centres, five for girls and five for boys. Boys will be in rooms at Al Safa, Al Manara, and Al Ma’aref and at Al Nukhba Model School, and Rashid Bin Saeed School. The schools for girls include: Jumeirah Model School, Al Qeyam School, Al Ibda’a School, Nad Al Hamr School, and Khadeeja School.
The camps will host a variety of activities such as swimming, diving, shooting, chess, tennis, and horse-riding. It also has local entertainment trips, a trip to Saudi for performing Umra, scientific and educational courses, and others to teach and learn the Qur’an. There will also be courses in flower arrangement, fashion, painting, photography, and crafts, as well as courses in media and music.
There will also be a National Identity project, under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Riuler of Dubai, which aims to strengthen the national identity, the sense of belonging to Arabic and Islam within students, and the maintaining of their traditions.
Another programme - in co-operation with a large number of public and private establishments - will be called “My Profession”. This aims to prepare students for entering the jobs market, to teach them about professional life, and to let them experience working life.
There will also be a fun English Language Development project, which includes an Oxbridge course conducted in co-operation with Oxford and Cambridge Universities in the UK. The course is to enhance and develop English language skills and by making it fun, it is hoped to boost youngsters’ self- confidence in speaking English.
The project will include a trip to England which under the patronage of HH Sheikh Maktoum Bin Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and a contribution from HH Sheikha Rawda bint Ahmad Bin Juma Al Maktoum, in co-operation with the Nama’a Consultation Centre.
There will also be a Student Leadership project, which includes a trip to Mauritius and aims to develop leadership skills for students. This project is 10 days long, starting on July 7. The three participants will be nominated by their schools.
The DSA has expanded the scope of activities this year, as it firmly believes its role does not end when the school doors shut. The Agency acknowledges that summer time offers limitless opportunities for education, as long as the pupils have fun as well.