Sharjah 24 – WAM: His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Presidential Court, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Khalifa Award for Education, has affirmed that education in the UAE holds a special place, and is at the forefront of national priorities, receiving comprehensive care and great attention from the wise leadership.

"With the guidance of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the nation has succeeded in providing an educational model characterised by excellence, leadership, and high-quality of outcomes.

“The UAE has paid special attention to early education, enacted laws and legislations, and motivated workers in the sector. Accordingly, the Khalifa International Award for Early Learning Field has been established to inspire all education professionals worldwide, as part of the Khalifa Award for Education programme,” he said.

This proclamation came during a televised speech delivered by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan during a ceremony held by the Khalifa Award for Education to honour the winners of its 17th edition. The ceremony was held in conjunction with the opening of the 3rd Khalifa Award for Education Conference, which is being held under the theme of Education as a Pathway from Empowerment to the Future.

His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed congratulated the winners of this year’s awards, thanking the members of the award’s board of trustees, members of its executive committee, the screening and awarding committees, coordinators, those working in the educational field inside and outside the country, all strategic partners, the entities cooperating with the award, and all other relevant entities.

The celebration at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental Hotel was attended by Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes' Affairs and Chairman of the Emirates Council for Balanced Development; Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Khalifa Award for Education; Zaki Nusseibeh, Cultural Adviser to the UAE President and Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU); Ahmed Juma Al Zaabi, Adviser to the UAE President; Major General Pilot Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Commander-in-Chief of Abu Dhabi Police; Dr. Abdul Rahman bin Muhammad Al Asmi, Director-General of the Arab Education Bureau for the Gulf States in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Dr. Mohieddin Tawq, Chairman of the National Council for Curriculum Development in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; and a number of academic and educational leaders from inside and outside the country.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak and Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed honoured the winners of the award at its 17th session.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak presented the Distinguished Educational Personality award to Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (the Mother of the Nation), Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF). The accolade was accepted on Her Highness’ behalf by Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed.

The esteemed award was presented to Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak in recognition of efforts to advance the education process, and support excellence in education locally and globally.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak andSheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed honoured a total of 41 men and women representing the educational field, including 26 winners from the UAE and 11 from the Arab world.

There were four winners in the field of the Khalifa International Award for Early Learning, while the Distinguished Emirati Family award was granted to three distinguished Emirati families who have made outstanding contributions in supporting the education process.