The reconstruction of the Education, Human Resources and Community Development Council aims to enhance comprehensive governance of the sector and link it to human development and the community
DUBAI, July 15, 2024 (WAM) – UAE witnessed a major restructuring of the education system and the appointment of new ministers.
Following the approval of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced a new cabinet formation in the country.
Sarah Al Amiri has been appointed as the UAE’s Minister of Education. Among the other appointments are Abdulrahman Al Awar as acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research in addition to his current post as Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Ahmad Belhoul as Minister of Sports and Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology in addition to his duties as Chairman of the UAE Space Agency.
“We announce the reconstruction of the Education, Human Resources and Community Development Council under the chairmanship of H. H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and Vice Chairperson H.H. Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,” said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
According to him, the Ministry of Community Development will be under the umbrella of the Council, as well as the Ministry of Education, higher education, federal universities and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. H.H. Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will also chair the Quality of Education Centre.
He went on to say, “The Education Council, chaired by Sheikh Abdullah and with Sheikha Mariam as Vice Chairperson, safeguards stability and continuity of education plans and strategies.
The council will oversee our national human capital under the guidance and vision of the UAE President, addressing everything from early childhood to general education, higher education, employment and Emiratisation, ultimately supporting stable families capable of raising generations that are attached to their identity, preserving the values of their society, and keeping pace with all future scientific and technological changes.”
Sheikh Mohammed also announced the integration of the Emirates Schools Establishment (ESE) and the Federal Agency of Early Education with the Ministry of Education.
“We also announce the naming of Alia Abdullah Al Mazrouei as Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, bringing her massive experience from the private and government sectors. Her mandate is to create more economic opportunities for UAE nationals in line with the national economy’s robust growth.”
New structure of the education sector
The new structure for the education sector in the country comes as part of the sustainable development of this strategic sector. It aims to enhance comprehensive governance of the sector and link it to human development and the community. Additionally, it seeks to improve cooperation among various entities within the educational system to accelerate the implementation of strategic plans and enhance communication, connection, and participation between education and the community
The initiative also focuses on improving quality, ongoing development and evaluation processes, monitoring progress, and achieving the aspirations and targeted outcomes for all members of society.
The new structure also aims to transform into a sustainable system that considers community members from the beginning of their lives, focusing on developing their educational and professional journeys. It supports lifelong learning and development to ensure continued growth and prosperity for future generations.
The cabinet reshuffle aims to unify the visions between education, human development and the community, enabling communication and collaboration among various entities to achieve shared priorities. It also targets attracting, retaining and nurturing talent to enhance education and human development in society.
Furthermore, the new structure focuses on addressing the needs of education and the community at the national level, finding solutions to various challenges to support students, teachers, school principals, parents, and all segments of society.
Education, Human Resources and Community Development Council
The Education, Human Resources and Community Development Council encompasses under its umbrella the Quality of Education Centre, the General Secretariat, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and federal universities, along with the Ministries of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Community Development, according to the council’s scope of work.
The council’s responsibilities include approving the vision and strategic directions for education, human development, and community in the country, as well as endorsing performance indicators and key targets. Additionally, it will approve frameworks, policies, strategies, legislation, and regulations, overseeing the performance of federal entities related to its scope and monitoring their progress in achieving the set targets.
Quality of Education Centre
As part of the new structure, the Quality of Education Centre is responsible for monitoring and measuring the quality of educational outcomes, student performance, and the efficiency of the educational process in both public and private sectors across all levels, which is achieved through specific, standardised frameworks and tools.
The centre aims to enhance the tools, capacities and culture of quality measurement within all educational institutions in the country, preparing and publishing reports on the performance quality of students and educational institutions after their approval to promote transparency in the sector. Additionally, it will propose developmental policies to enhance education quality, ensuring alignment with targeted outcomes and the needs of the labour market and community.
General Secretariat of the Education, Human Resources and Community Development Council
The new structure for the education sector includes the establishment of a General Secretariat for the Education, Human Resources and Community Development Council. It will support the council in its tasks and oversee the implementation of the new structure within a clear strategy for change management. Its responsibilities also include building a strong digital infrastructure for educational data, linking it with community, employment and labour market data to support and enhance the decision-making process.
Ministry of Education
As part of the new structure, the Emirates School Education Foundation and the UAE Federal Agency for Early Education have been merged with the Ministry of Education, making the ministry responsible for early and general education stages. Its responsibilities include developing frameworks, policies, strategies, legislation, and regulations related to general education from early childhood to secondary education (both public and private, as well as technical and vocational) for all student categories, including those with students of determination, talented students and others.
Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
The new structure includes the establishment of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, which will be responsible for the frameworks and policies of both public and private higher education, linking them to the labour market to enhance the competitiveness of higher education institutions in the country and support academic research efforts.
Additionally, the Ministry will work closely with public education institutions to align educational outcomes with higher education requirements, building strong relationships and joint programmes between education and the labour market to ensure that educational outputs meet the needs of key sectors in the country.
