Dubai: Her Excellency Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education, affirmed that Emirati women play a pivotal role in shaping society and future generations, describing them as the first educators of children and key contributors to promoting values and principles within families.Speaking during a keynote session titled "Makers of Generations and Builders of the Future" at the Emirati Women's Forum, Her Excellency said Emirati women are fundamental drivers of society whose role extends from nurturing children from birth to developing future generations and strengthening community values.Her Excellency highlighted the importance of the Arabic language as a core component of the UAE's identity, noting that its foundations are established within the family and further strengthened through education."The Arabic language is linked to our identity in the UAE, and its consolidation begins at home and is completed at school," she said.She added that introducing Arabic language education from the kindergarten stage contributes significantly to shaping students' personalities, while artificial intelligence can also be used to support Arabic language mastery, particularly by encouraging students to write prompts and commands using proper Arabic.Adapting to a changing worldHer Excellency said adaptability has become one of the most important skills for future generations.She stressed the importance of instilling in children the ability to adapt continuously, embrace lifelong learning, and develop their skills in response to changing circumstances.AI curriculum across all gradesAl Amiri noted that the UAE government education system is the only one that applies an artificial intelligence curriculum across all grade levels.She explained that the objective of the curriculum is to build awareness among students about the appropriate and responsible use of AI tools."The importance of this curriculum lies in cultivating awareness among students about how to use artificial intelligence tools and employ them correctly," she said.Supporting teachers and school leadersHer Excellency praised the capabilities of Emirati teachers and school leaders, saying they have demonstrated their ability to support ongoing changes in the education sector and align educational outcomes with the needs of today's students.She said school principals have also shown outstanding competence, contributing to what she described as a qualitative improvement in school performance.Al Amiri added that as AI tools become increasingly accessible, the focus should be on teaching students how to use them effectively rather than attempting to prevent their use."Even if we prevent students from using artificial intelligence tools in classrooms, they will use them at home, so the most important thing is to instil awareness and teach them how to use these tools," she said.Building AI literacyHer Excellency explained that students' understanding of artificial intelligence develops progressively throughout their educational journey, from the early years to secondary school and university.She said students should learn not only how to use AI tools but also how to ask effective questions and benefit from AI-generated outputs.She added that teachers are also being equipped with AI tools to enhance teaching methods and strengthen the learning experience inside classrooms.Partnership between home and schoolConcluding her remarks, Al Amiri stressed the importance of strong alignment between family and school environments."We want schools to be a reflection of the home environment," she said."The basic values and principles we instil in our children at home are complemented by the school. The role of the family in development and upbringing is very important, just as the role of the school is important in reinforcing Emirati values and principles."
