Mohammed bin Rashid Commends Al Ibdaa’ Model School for Winning Best School at Arab Reading Challenge

Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, visited Al Ibdaa' Model School in Al Twar-1, Dubai, to celebrate its achievement of winning the Best School award at the 8th Arab Reading Challenge. The school, known for its extensive initiatives to promote reading, was recognized among 229,000 schools from 50 countries. According to Emirates News Agency, Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the critical role schools play in shaping individuals' character during formative years. He highlighted the necessity for educational institutions to cultivate values and principles guiding students throughout their lives. Schools serve as the foundation for future efforts, he noted, by nurturing a conscientious and creative generation. Sheikh Mohammed called on education leaders to inspire students to read, acknowledging its potential to unlock new pathways to excellence. He remarked, "The journey of progress begins in schools, and through knowledge, we create generati ons capable of achieving the impossible." The Vice President stressed that fostering a culture of reading equips students with the tools for success and prepares them to contribute meaningfully to the future. During his visit, Sheikh Mohammed awarded Al Ibdaa' Model School the title of 'Best School' along with a prize of AED1 million. This accolade recognized the school's pivotal role in promoting the reading habit among students and enhancing participation in the Arab Reading Challenge. The school's initiatives included 48 projects, resulting in students reading 25,000 books in one year, with an average of 50 books read per student. Sheikh Mohammed's visit underscored his commitment to education and his support for outstanding educational institutions. He praised Al Ibdaa' School for serving as a model for other schools, recognizing its leadership's efforts in inspiring a reading culture. He emphasized that reading opens the door to knowledge and discovery, fostering intellectual and cultural growth. Shei kh Mohammed toured the school, established in 1993, and was briefed on its efforts to encourage reading. The school offers a comprehensive curriculum, including Arabic, English, and Chinese. In addition to its recent accolade, Al Ibdaa' School has received several awards, such as the Emirates Development Award in 2020, the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Distinguished Educational Performance in 2018, and the Khalifa Educational Award in 2017. This year's Arab Reading Challenge, organized by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, reached new heights with over 28 million students participating from more than 229,000 schools across 50 countries, guided by over 154,000 supervisors.