VE Day: UK ambassador to UAE reveals personal link to end of Second World War
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
9 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE: How to prevent 'learning loss' and help kids study during summer holidays
With summer in full swing, families across the UAE are juggling holidays, travel plans, and downtime at home. But behind the relaxed pace of July and August lies a concern that educators have long warned about — the 'summer slide.' Studies show that children can lose 20-30 per cent of their academic progress over the summer break, particularly in math, where an average dip of up to 2.6 months is common over just six weeks. This learning loss can quietly build up over the years, putting some students as much as two years behind by middle school. Recognising this, many UAE schools heads are actively encouraging parents to incorporate learning into their children's daily routines, even during vacation. 'For some students there may be a slight loss of learning over the summer however we do encourage all of our students to read for a minimum of 30 minutes daily to develop literacy skills further which in turn enables access to all curriculum areas,' said Stephen Brecken, Principal/CEO of GEMS Cambridge International School, Dubai. 'Students are encouraged to access online platforms daily, such as Century Tech and Times Table Rock Stars, to prevent regression in learning, especially in the core subjects. We assign work over the summer for students joining us in Year 12 from the CBSE curriculum. We do find that the large majority of our parents encourage their children to undertake some form of academic learning over the summer holidays, which does go a long way to prevent summer regress," Brecken said. "Schools and educators could collaborate to develop early intervention programmes which would enable parents and children to learn together in a fun and engaging way over the summer, whilst also being mindful of the need for us all to take time to focus on wellbeing and Family First," he added. Learning through life, not just lessons From digital tools to shared reading time, many families are doing their best to keep young minds ticking. Maryssa O'Connor, Executive Vice President of Quality Assurance and Principal of GEMS Wellington International School Dubai, pointed out that learning doesn't have to be confined to books or devices. 'Mathematics curricula and assessment in schools are designed to ensure any gaps or difficulties are noted by teachers and addressed. Over time this should prevent children falling significantly behind and our schools have excellent intervention and teaching practices to support children who need extra guidance," O'Connor said. She explained parents can support by ensuring children regularly practise their maths using the resources shared by the teacher, this includes the holiday period. Just like reading, short periods of regular practice will help children remember. Real life application is also a great way to keep maths alive in the holidays. 'Parents can involve children in daily maths through counting, measuring and time planning. Try converting currency when travelling and working out the bill in restaurants and when shopping together. Planning routes, how long a journey will take and calculating time differences are all good ways to keep maths skills working hard in the holidays. Playing board games that involve counting and even keeping score of a ball game at the beach can help maths be fun for younger children too,' added O'Connor. The summer break also brings emotional shifts, especially for children who've travelled back to their home countries or had disrupted routines. School leaders say this can affect how students reintegrate into the classroom. Creative holiday homework and tech tools 'Being an educator for 30 years, I've seen that summer learning loss is a real and recurring challenge,' said Shiny Davison, Principal of Woodlem Park School Hamidiya. 'To address this, we dedicate the first week to informal assessments to identify learning gaps. With students returning from diverse backgrounds and experiences, especially after travel to home countries, we focus on restoring consistent routines, revisiting core concepts, and applying real-life learning strategies. These practices have proven effective over the years," Davison added. "To keep students and parents engaged during the summer break, many institutions continue the tried-and-tested practice of assigning holiday homework — designed in fun, creative formats to reinforce previously learned concepts. 'This ensures children remain connected to their learning while involving parents in the process. Additionally, we incorporate educational apps in English, math, and science, leveraging the tech-savvy nature of today's alpha generation. These platforms make revision interactive and enjoyable. To boost motivation, we implement a reward system that appreciates completion and effort. This not only encourages children to stay on track academically but also builds a sense of responsibility and enthusiasm throughout the summer," Davison said.
Khaleej Times
20 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Summer camp in RAK teaches children how Emirati families once lived and farmed
The historic area of Shamal was chosen as the site of this year's Ras Al Khaimah kids summer camp, because of its deeply rooted agricultural heritage, according to Ahmed Obaid Al Teneiji, Director General of the Antiquities and Museums Authority in Ras Al Khaimah. Al Teneiji said the Antiquities and Museums Authority selects a different environment each year to showcase the diversity of the emirate's landscapes and traditions. After last year's camp focused on Ras Al Khaimah's coastal culture in Shaam, this summer the spotlight shifted inland to the fertile lands of Shamal. 'This year, we focused on the agricultural environment, which Ras Al Khaimah is famous for the area of Shamal,' Al Teneiji explained. 'It's an opportunity for the younger generation to connect with the traditional practices their forefathers engaged in, from working with palm trees and harvesting dates to learning traditional irrigation techniques and the many uses of the blessed palm tree.' The summer camp, which ran from July 15 to 19, featured hands-on activities for kids aged 12-15, including palm frond weaving, rope making, and demonstrations of traditional date harvesting. These were organized in collaboration with local craftspeople and the Palm Arts and Heritage Society. Al Yazrah water-extraction method One of the activities during the summer camp was water-extraction method known as 'Al Yazrah.' Before the use of electric pumps, farmers in the UAE relied on animal power to draw water for agriculture. Al Yazrah used a bull typically over two years old and trained for months to pull a bucket from a shallow well along a sloped path. This method was once widespread in coastal and eastern regions of the country. This technique was common about 30 years ago, As the bull moved back and forth, the wooden system would make rhythmic sounds that helped keep the worker focused and motivated. At a recent summer camp, young participants had the chance to see how Al Yazrah worked, offering them a hands-on experience of how earlier generations managed farming with limited tools and great creativity. 13-year-old Yousef Rashid Ahmed Rashid Al Shameili expressed his enjoyment of learning about Emirati heritage at the summer camp, where he discovered how to climb palm trees using a traditional rope called a habool. He also learned the process of harvesting dates, including how to separate and collect ripe date bunches. 'There were many things I didn't know before, but I learned a lot through the camp,' he shared. Al Teneiji highlighted the strong community engagement the camp received, noting that children and families came not only from Shamal but from all across Ras Al Khaimah. "Every day, we had families returning," he said." 'We want the children to not just learn, but to experience what life was like how families used to migrate from coastal areas to the farms during the summer season, how they lived, worked, and built their livelihoods from the land,' Al Teneiji added. He also revealed that next year's summer camp will explore a different environment within Ras Al Khaimah which its mission is to educate youth through immersive, place-based learning.
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Meet teen gifted land by Fujairah Ruler 4 years ago, now known as 'the little farmer'
From rare Emirati date varieties to bold experiments with tropical fruits, the 9th edition of the Al Dhaid Date Festival put a spotlight on the UAE's growing spirit of agricultural innovation — one rooted in tradition but reaching toward the future. At the heart of this transformation is 17-year-old Sultan Ali Al-Khuzaymi, affectionately known as 'The Little Farmer'. At just 13, he received a plot of land as a gift from Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, the Ruler of Fujairah. Since then, Sultan has cultivated a vibrant blend of traditional crops and experimental varieties, including lemons, figs, dates, and a unique palm tree of his own design. "One variety is gaining special attention for its unique qualities locally known as 'Bahri'. The term doesn't refer to a specific type of date, but rather to a feature: dates with a noticeably large seed inside. In simple terms, Bahri means 'with a seed'," explained Sultan. Now a recent high school graduate, Sultan plans to study agricultural engineering at UAE University. 'This is just the beginning,' he said, expressing his ambition to fuse Emirati heritage with modern techniques and imported varieties. Making every land count But Sultan isn't the only farmer making waves at this year's festival. Also capturing attention is Muhammad Al-Saadi, a seasoned farmer from the mountainous village of Nahwa. Over the years, he has quietly transformed turned his small, scattered plots into a hub of crop experimentation. Al-Saadi's farm, known locally for cultivating rare date varieties like Alwan and Khashkar, alongside Egyptian Zaghloul palms, has become a testing ground for crops seldom in the region, including moringa, Pakistani mangoes, figs, and the fast-growing papaya, also known as 'fefay'. Despite the limited space, Al-Saadi makes every metre count. By propagating a single offshoot into dozens, he not only boosts his farm's output but shares them with other farmers, helping diversify and strengthen the region's agricultural landscape. For Al-Saadi, farming is as much about community as it is abut cultivation. Collaborating with farmers across the region, Al Saadi regularly trades offshoots and seeds, testing imported crops for adaptability and quality. His standout success? Moringa — a fast-growing, resilient, multi-purpose tree that, as he says, 'comes right back' after cutting, making it perfect for small-scale farms. 'Not about dates anymore' The Al Dhaid festival, organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), was scheduled for its official inauguration on July 24 and will continue until July 27. New competition categories were introduced, including regional exclusives for Al Dhaid and the central region, which expands the event's reach, according to Director-General Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi. Farmers will compete across several categories, including popular date types like Khneizi, Khalas, and Shishi, along with two elite classes: the 'General Al Dhaid Elite Dates' and the 'Special Al Dhaid Elite Dates', reserved specifically for farmers from the Northern Emirates. 'It's not just about dates anymore,' said Al Awadi. 'We've added lemons, figs, and other fruits to promote broader agricultural development and food security.' Educational workshops held by the Chamber's Youth Council, the Sharjah Youth Council, and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment are also helping farmers improve production and share sustainable practices. With more than 40 varieties of local dates and fruits on display, the Al Dhaid Date Festival has become more than just an agricultural showcase. It is now a testament to the UAE's next generation of farmers: young, resilient, and rooted in both tradition and change.
