Emirati student from Abu Dhabi named UAE Arabic Reading Champion

“We are very proud of this year’s participants, hopeful for a new generation who love to read, and confident that our future will be in the hands of a generation with a passion for learning and knowledge.”

Sheikh Mohammed congratulated Emirati student Amna Mohammed Al Mansouri (17) from Abu Dhabi for winning the UAE Arabic Reading Challenge.

Al Mansouri won the Arabic Reading Challenge in the UAE as a national qualifier for the seventh edition of the Arabic Reading Challenge.

A total of 514,506 students from 921 schools participated in the challenge, supervised by 1,578 supervisors.

Al Mansoori from Aisha bint Abi Baker School in Abu Dhabi was crowned in a major ceremony held at the Higher Institute of Technology – Men’s College in the presence of Her Excellency Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology. Dr. Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olamah, Chairman of the UAE Schools Board, CEO of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, and other officials responsible for the Arabic Reading Challenge and Education workers.

Sheikh Mohammed said: “My heartfelt congratulations to Amna Mohammad Mansouri and her parents for taking first place in the UAE Challenge after reading 128 books this school year. Two years ago, Amna lost She lost the ability to walk, but that didn’t stop her. She went on, sailing the vast oceans of knowledge and literature. This challenge was the beginning of a life-changing experience.” Amna can walk again

“Today, Amna was able to walk again, won the reading challenge and created two stories. In a few days, she will represent the UAE at the International Physics Olympiad in Tokyo. The challenge for Amna is to rebuild herself and regain control This is what we expect from all young Emirati people,” said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

“Books have taught me how to live and face challenges,” Al Mansouri told Gulf News in an exclusive interview.

“I have been reading since I was a child. So far, it is difficult to tell how many books I have read. I have read a lot in the past two years, especially classical, scientific, and philosophical. For this challenge, I have at least 131 books were read. We have had detailed judging at school, emirate and national level. I am looking forward to participating in the larger Arabic reading challenge,” said Al Mansouri, a Year 11 student and a fan of Omani author Jokha Alharthi.

She said she was grateful for her win and encouraged young students to start early on their favorite reading journey.

Sheikh Mohammed also congratulated Gharib Al Yamahi, a Year 12 student at Hamad bin Abdullah Al Sharqi Secondary School in Fujairah, for winning the Challenge in the Man of Determination category.

Al Yamahi is blind but has achieved several things. “He read and wrote 130 books in Braille and was both an eloquent speaker and an excellent student. When a blind person reads 130 books, those with sight must read them again What he has read. We wish Ghalib great success. His determination and willpower are living proof that nothing is impossible in the UAE,” said Sheikh Mohammed.

Organized by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiative and first launched in the 2015/2016 school year, the Arabic Reading Challenge is the largest Arab initiative of its kind, reflecting Sheikh Mohammed bin Rahid Vision and belief of His Highness de Al Maktoum “Reading is the first step towards a better future driven by knowledge and learning.”

Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Orama, CEO of Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, told Gulf News: “We are delighted to see more than 50 million students participated in the challenge.

“These students read at least 50 books each for the challenge. This will really add to the knowledge base in the UAE. We are very proud of the knowledge base we have here,” said Olama.

“The UAE has a wealth of talent. We are especially grateful to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for launching this initiative and extending all the support and support to our young readers. Encouragement. The impact of this is huge. Parents, teachers, students come together to create this huge knowledge base.”

Orama explained that there are many criteria before declaring a reading challenge winner. “So it’s not just about the number of books the students read. It’s about understanding the book and answering the jury’s questions.”

The challenge aims to emphasize the importance of reading, develop comprehension and self-expression in correct Arabic, and develop creative thinking skills to help enrich Arabic content and solidify Arabic as a language of thought, science, research and creativity Status, which plays a role in cultural dialogue and openness.

This year’s Challenge added a ‘Mental Men’ category, a significant improvement to the program, reflecting the importance of their participation and the importance of giving them the opportunity to prove their abilities and improve their skills. Of the 190 determined students who took part in this year’s challenge, three made it to the final round of national qualifiers.

The challenge includes multiple qualifying rounds in which students must successfully read and summarize the content of 50 books. Qualification begins at class level and ends at national level before the winners advance to the final round. Winners are selected based on strict and uniform criteria, including an assessment of all relevant aspects.

Ahmed Al Bastaki of the challenge winning school, Emirates National School in Al Ain, was also interviewed by Gulf News.

“We have a strategy in place across the six campuses of the school. We have a short-term strategy and a long-term strategy. Teachers and students sit together and prepare. We owe our success to our preparation.”