Majlis Mohamed bin Zayed lecture explores early childhood education

ABU DHABI/WAM

HH Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the latest Majlis Mohamed bin Zayed lecture titled “Reimagining Early Childhood Education”.
The lecture, which took place in the Majlis Mohamed bin Zayed venue at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, was delivered by renowned global education adviser Prof Ger Graus, who was awarded an OBE for services to children.
Over the course of the lecture, Prof Graus explored how to make education and schooling meaningful and relevant to the needs, abilities, and passions of each child. He said children only grow within the parameters adults set and explained that “children can only aspire to what they know exists.”
Prof Graus said at present, adults often put children in boxes and “pass the parcel” as they move along various stages of education.
Prof Graus underscored the importance of early childhood education and the role of play and briefly mentioned the “Education from 0 to 99” approach, which seeks to measure what we value within a personalised education context. “When we talk about the growing and education of children, we need to think of the foundations and how we can make them as good as possible,” he said.
The education expert said that when it comes to children, we can ask, “Who would you like to be?” and added that the ‘who’ question is about values and principles.
Prof Graus argued that “our children are more than a test score,” and said “we should go beyond academics and seek insights from outside the classroom to provide curriculum that incorporates creativity, progress, and innovation”.
A central theme in Prof Graus’ work is the importance of experience-based learning. “Experience gives purpose and understanding and when we have that, we are capable of learning,” he said.
The lecture was moderated by Mariam Al Hallami, Education Advisor, Department of Education and Knowledge – ADEK. It featured pre-recorded contributions from Reem Al Falasi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood; Liam Cullinan, Executive Principal, Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi; Taher Lahdan, Social Studies Teacher, Al Saqoor Elementary School, Abu Dhabi; and Amine Kharchach, Interpretation & Creative Content Section Head, Louvre Abu Dhabi.
“Reimagining Early Childhood Education” will be broadcast on Saturday, 29th June at 5 pm on local TV networks and will be available to watch afterwards on the Majlis Mohamed bin Zayed YouTube channel