In its continuing efforts to develop the education sector and to enhance patriotism, the Western Region Development Council (WRDC) has supported a forum held at the Umaimah bin Abdul Mutalib School on Dalma Island to promote UAE patriotism. The focus of the forum was to highlight the role of heritage in enhancing patriotism. Officials and school principals from across the Western Region participated, in addition to other attendees from Abu Dhabi city and Al Ain Educational Zones.
The forum emphasized on three aspects of the local hertiage; the history of Dalma Island, the role of heritage in enhancing patriotism and the presence of heritage in the educational curriculum. A festival, which included a local heritage exhibition, was also held on the occasion.
H.E. Mohamed Hamad Al Mazrouei, WRDC Director General, said: “We at WRDC are dedicated towards preserving the local culture and tradition still found today in the Western Region. Our association with this forum gives us an opportunity to highlight the importance of heritage to encourage patriotism and maintain our national identity. The forum also provided us with the opportunity to clearly outline an implementation plan that incorporates education, investment and entrepreneurial avenues for the people in the region.”
He added: “Our support for the forum comes close on the heels of our various initiatives, such as our scholarship programme to boost our future generation’s career development in addition to a number of forums held for male & female school officials and principals from across the region. These forums allowed WRDC and delegates to meet and address the day-to-day operational challenges faced by each school in the region and identify short and long-term solutions.
WRDC is continuing to make significant progress by implementing such landmark initiatives - making a difference to WRDC’s number one priority – the residents of the region.”
H.E. Khalfan Eissa Al Mansoori, Director General of the Western Region Education Zone has participated in the forum, in addition to Mr Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hosani, Acting Director, Regional Development at WRDC, who presented part of WRDC’s strategy and their efforts to enhance the quality of education in the region.
The forum was held on Thursday, May 1, 2008 and was organised by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) and supported by WRDC and Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Ltd (GASCO).
Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE, and the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces, the Western Regional Development Council has been established to shape the Western Region’s future by placing the region and its people’s interests at heart. One of WRDC’s main goals is improving the lives of people in the Western Region. Its strategy focuses on the development of better education, healthcare and infrastructure in order to encourage economic growth.
