The UAE has recently announced the launch of “Madrasa”, an e-learning platform, aimed at supporting Arab students living in over 1,000 villages, remote areas and refugee camps with no internet access.
Under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the platform will provide 5,000 free Arabised videos in general science, math, biology, chemistry and physics to students from kindergarten to grade 12 without internet access through four innovative offline solutions.
Launching the offline e-learning platform, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum said, “We launched “Madrasa” e-learning platform to provide 5,000 free Arabized videos in math and science to students living in 1,000 remote villages without internet access. The initiative is the first phase to cover remote areas across the Arab World.
“Education is the biggest hope for the Arab World. Nothing should stop our children from receiving education.”
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid emphasized that e-learning bridges the knowledge gap in the Arab World. “Improving the education system in the Arab World is an urgent priority. E-learning is the most effective way to empower Arab students and the ideal solution to provide them with world-class education wherever they are.”
Launched under the umbrella of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), the project will reach out to children in remote villages and camps through Madrasa tablet, WiFi hotspot device, Madrasa flash memory (USB) and Madrasa Smart Bag. Each of these technologies, which facilitates access to creative educational videos without internet, will be delivered to different camp schools and villages depending on the need.
He added, “Madrasa for 1,000 villages is a message of life, determination and better future. There’s only one key to the success of our societies, economies and future: Education.”
Madrasa’s educational content will be available on a tablet with an 8-hour battery life, while the mobile hotspot device will provide WiFi network that allows students in remote schools to connect to the internet. The hotspot device, which extends to 300 meters of coverage and operates on an 8-hour battery life, will also give access to e-books and videos that will be regularly updated.
Some students will receive educational videos on a flash memory (USB) that they can connect to a tablet or computer and learn without internet access.
Madrasa Smart Bag provides a full mobile classroom of 20 tablets, projector, WiFi extender, speakers and WiFi hotspot device. The classroom provides Madrasa’s content and other educational material in Arabic including e-books and videos.
