The digital school promotes digital transformation and future trends in education for southern African countries

The Digital School — one of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's global initiatives — held a series of high—level sessions, entitled "Promoting digital transformation in education for the Southern African Development Community countries", in cooperation with the World Food Program and the Southern African Development Community, in which experts and specialists in the educational and academic sectors participated. And development and technology and from the private sector, within the activities of the high—level sessions on digital education for the countries of the southern African region, which were held in the city of Cape Town in the Republic of South Africa during the period from 27 to 29 November.

The dialogue sessions and workshops aimed to support efforts to shape the future directions of the education sector by developing a road map for the advancement of digital education in countries of the region, and identifying the opportunities and challenges associated with this sector, which contributes to enabling them to benefit from the great opportunities that advanced technology provides to the educational sector.

The dialogue sessions were held to build on the outcomes of the agreement signed by the Digital School and the World Food Program in New York City, in conjunction with the meetings of the United Nations General Assembly, last September, in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Shakhbut Al Nahyan, Minister of State, and His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and the Digital Economy. And remote work applications, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Digital School, and representatives of the Southern African Development Community.

The event witnessed the announcement of a number of joint initiatives related to the digital education sector, including a road map for the advancement of digital education in the countries of the Southern African Community in cooperation with the Digital School, and the launch of cooperation between the Digital School and the national offices of the World Food Program in the 16 countries of the region, in addition to the announcement of a grant. To train 1,000 digital teachers from the countries of the Southern African Community, in cooperation between the Digital School and Arizona State University, sponsored by the Government Knowledge Exchange Office in the UAE, and to open the door to partnerships and cooperation to support the roadmap for digital education.

Dr. Walid Al Ali, Secretary General of the Digital School, stressed the importance of strengthening efforts to spread future education models in the countries of the African continent, stressing that the Digital School is keen to launch initiatives and projects aimed at embodying the leadership's directives by expanding the circle of UAE partnerships in the fields of education, development and digital literacy, in a way that enhances The country's global leadership in developing the new generation of education.

He said that the participants in the sessions worked to draw and define the features of a road map for digital education for the countries of the southern African region and discussed the challenges, opportunities and innovative solutions that would ensure the dissemination of this model and enable students in the region to access the best educational opportunities, and provide teachers with the tools and skills necessary to implement digital education models.

He pointed out that the first phase of the initiative aimed at popularizing the digital education model, which is being implemented in coordination with the World Food Program and the Southern African Development Community, will focus on 6 countries: Angola, Lesotho, Madagascar, Namibia, Zambia, and South Africa.

The summit aimed to expand the network of partners, including the private sector and telecommunications companies, establishing a new era of cooperation and innovation in digital education.

As part of the summit activities, a series of meetings were held between the digital school team and policy makers and those concerned with the education sector in the Southern African Development Community countries, to share the school's experiences in the field of digital education in a way that supports efforts to transfer the experience and develop a plan that suits the needs and keeps pace with the aspirations of southern African countries.

More than 100 officials and specialists from 18 countries participated in the summit, including 6 ministers of education and technology, 46 speakers and experts, and representatives of 35 institutions.

It is noteworthy that His Excellency Sheikh Shakhbut bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, and His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Digital School, witnessed last September the signing of a memorandum of understanding at the headquarters of the Permanent Mission of the UAE to the United Nations. To expand digital school initiatives to reach schools in less fortunate communities in Sub—Saharan Africa.

The memorandum was signed by Dr. Waleed Al Ali, Secretary—General of the Digital School, and Ute Klamert, Assistant Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme, in the presence of Her Excellency Anna Esther Nyibunduka, Minister of Education, Arts and Culture of the Republic of Namibia, and Estrin Lesingye—Futabong, Director of Program Implementation and Coordination at the New Partnership Planning and Coordination Agency. For African Development "NEPAD".

It is noteworthy that the "Digital School", which was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, "may God protect him", in November 2020 within the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation, is the first integrated digital school from Its type, and aims to empower students with digital learning options in areas that do not have the appropriate conditions or components that students need to continue their education. It also provides a qualitative option for blended learning and distance learning, in a smart and flexible way, targeting the less fortunate societal groups, refugees and displaced persons, through materials. And modern educational curricula.