Sharjah Ruler: Sharjah values women and respects their role

He explained that Sharjah takes into account women’s natural conditions and seeks to make their path through education and employment easier. The Sharjah Government, he said, removes all obstacles faced by working mothers, granting them maternity leave followed by breastfeeding hours, while government nurseries take care of their children from the age of three months, providing proper care, sound upbringing, and healthy nutrition.

During a live phone call on the Direct Line programme broadcast on Sharjah Radio and Television and hosted by Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi said, “We facilitate university education for our students through various means. Whether I am present at the universities as president or following up remotely, I continuously oversee their progress—and I still directly manage three universities.” I always oversee their progress, and I continue to manage three universities under my direction. We value women and honour the nature God Almighty has bestowed upon them. As mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, “And bring to witness two witnesses from among your men.  And if there are not two men [available], then a man and two women from those whom you accept as witnesses – so that if one of the women errs, then the other can remind her.’ A woman may forget because she goes through many natural stages in her life that affect her health and body, causing pain and fatigue. She plays a vital role in life, as the child is formed in the mother’s womb and nourished by her body even if she is weak or frail. We deeply honour this noble role and sympathise with its consequences because we know how much women endure through different phases of life.”

Sharjah Ruler: We are committed to caring for and educating the children of working mothers in government nurseries

His Highness continued: “In Sharjah, we remove all obstacles for working mothers. We support them with fully paid maternity leave after childbirth, and upon their return to work, we grant them daily hours to breastfeed their children. We welcome their infants into government nurseries and increase the number of nurseries every year. Every working mother should rest assured that we will never deprive her child of being fed by her, whether directly or through milk prepared at home and provided at the nursery. As the child grows, we ensure healthy meals are served in nurseries. We are now establishing central kitchens that will supply all government nurseries with scientifically balanced, medically approved meals. Our goal is to ensure that while the mother works, her child receives proper care and upbringing—so that in the future, this child becomes a good citizen who benefits his family, community, and nation.”

Al Dhaid Victoria School to open next academic year

His Highness added, “We continue to care for our children even after the nursery stage, as they move on to school. We have established outstanding institutions — the Victoria International Schools. Work is currently underway to build a new Victoria School in Al Dhaid, which will welcome students next academic year, God willing. With this addition, the schools will operate in Al Taawun, Tilal City, Mleiha, Khor Fakkan, and Kalba. I am also working on a comprehensive educational project that integrates all stages—starting from nurseries that receive children from the age of three months, followed by kindergarten, primary, intermediate, and secondary levels—to provide a complete and high-quality education system for families who seek it.”

A light-hearted story from 1952: splitting an English textbook

His Highness shared an amusing memory from his school days, saying, “In 1952, when I was in fifth grade at Al Qasimia School, English was introduced for the first time. Due to the limited number of textbooks, our English teacher, Mr Nasr Tai, instructed each pair of students to share one book, taking turns to study it at home. One day, he asked a question to a student named Ali Bu Zanjal, who replied, ‘That question isn’t in my half.’ The teacher was surprised and asked for clarification – only to find out that the two students, Ali Bu Zanjal and Mohammed Ismail, had literally cut the book in half, each keeping one part!’

Smiling, His Highness added jokingly to presenter Mohammed Hassan Khalaf: “We hope that today’s graduates, when they become teachers, will not say to their students, ‘That wasn’t in my half,’ but instead have full knowledge of everything they teach.”