Erbil: The Digital School, an initiative under the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, has announced the launch of joint digital education projects with the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq. This collaboration aims to enhance the region's education sector by introducing future-ready tools and methodologies to empower students with advanced learning experiences and essential skills, supporting the region's digital education strategies and plans.
According to Emirates News Agency, this announcement was made during an official visit by the Digital School team to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The visit included inaugurating several digital schools, graduating 2,400 digital teachers, and launching a program to train 10,000 digital teachers. The event also celebrated outstanding teachers leading digital transformation efforts and involved field visits to various digital schools in coordination with the region's Ministry of Education.
The ceremony was attended by notable figures, including Alan Hama Saeed, Minister of Education in the Kurdistan Regional Government; Safeen Dizayee, Head of the Department of Foreign Relations in the Kurdistan Regional Government; Ahmed Al Dhaheri, UAE Consul-General in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq; Dr. Waleed Al Ali, Secretary-General of The Digital School; and several local officials. The Digital School delegation also included representatives from Dubai Cares, which has supported and funded the project.
Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications and Chairman of the Board of The Digital School, emphasized the partnership's commitment to enhancing the educational environment, accelerating digital transformation, and equipping students with future-ready tools and skills. He acknowledged the significant achievements made in a short period and valued the Kurdistan Regional Government's support for The Digital School's projects and initiatives.
Alan Hama Saeed expressed his pleasure in launching The Digital School as part of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives. He highlighted the importance of integrating technology in education, particularly for Generation Alpha, who engage with technology from an early age. Tariq Al Gurg, CEO and Vice Chairman of Dubai Cares, noted that the launch represents a vital investment in future generations, emphasizing the role of education in adapting to and shaping a rapidly changing world.
The Digital School team also met with education sector leaders in the Kurdistan Region to assess the outcomes of the collaboration. Key achievements included translating The Digital School's digital learning platform into Kurdish, offering Arizona State University-accredited digital teacher training courses in Kurdish, and digitizing the Kurdish national curriculum for an e-learning platform covering grades 1 to 9.
The initiative has successfully equipped 64 schools with digital learning tools, with over 40,000 students registered on The Digital School's platform to access the Kurdish curriculum. Additionally, 2,400 teachers have been trained through the Digital Educator Global Academy, earning ASU-accredited certificates, and 1,600 electronic devices have been provided to students and teachers.
The Digital School's efforts culminated in launching a new initiative with the Ministry of Education in the Kurdistan Regional Government to provide 10,000 training opportunities for teachers through the 'Digital Teacher' programme in collaboration with Arizona State University. This strategic step aims to build educators' capacity in the region and equip them with modern digital teaching tools to enhance education quality and align outcomes with the digital era's demands.
