Madrasa, the Arabic e-learning platform available to more than 60 million students for free, was awarded the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize. The accolade was granted in recognition of its efforts to provide digital educational content in Arabic, free of charge, contributing to global efforts of mother-tongue literacy development.
The prize was presented to Dr. Waleed Al Ali, Advisor at Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) and Director of Madrasa and Farah Al Azab, Senior projects manager for MBRGI, during an awarding ceremony organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Abidjan, the economic capital of Ivory Coast.
This is the UAE’s first win of the prize, and the only Arab nation in 2022, alongside notable laureate countries, including the United Kingdom and India being awarded the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize, as well as Brazil, South Africa, and Malaysia being awarded the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy.
Learning for All, a Vision that Invests in the Future of People
His Excellency Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Secretary General of MBRGI, said: “Providing educational opportunities for all, in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is a fruitful Emirati model that empowers future generations. It also contributes to instilling a culture of continued learning, and cultural and knowledge diversity, which accelerate the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and bring glory back to the region as a key contributor to humanity.”
His Excellency highlighted that developing and launching innovative and sustainable humanitarian initiatives, especially in the spreading education and knowledge sector, is a continuous approach in the UAE. He noted that the approach is supported by the nation’s wise leadership and receives immense contributions from the UAE community as well as international partners, including UN organizations, among others, that are keen on enhancing the future of humanitarian work that empowers humankind.
A Humanitarian Initiative in the Service of the Arabic Language
Madrasa’s win supports the UAE Declaration of Arabic Language signed by Arab Ministers of Culture at the Arabic Language Summit in December 2021, organized by the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth at Expo 2020 Dubai. Witnessed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the declaration is a commitment to preserve the Arabic language as that of identity, culture, and science.
In Recognition of the UAE’s Various Contributions
Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, pointed out that Madrasa’s win, as a public Emirati Arabic platform for tens of millions of students, is a recognition of the UAE’s various educational and cultural programs and initiatives.
Her Excellency reaffirmed that the UAE, under the directives of its wise leadership, will continue supporting programs that spread knowledge and enhance cultural awareness. This stems from the nation’s role as a global partner in empowering youth with the knowledge and skills that enable them to develop themselves and build societies that believe in the role of discourse, tolerance, and educational advancement in prosperity and development.
Third International Award
The UNESCO Literacy Prize is the third international award for Madrasa, which it received a few years from its launch. Madrasa was also awarded the Sharjah Award for Educational Excellence and the UNESCWA Digital Arabic Content Award 2022, highlighting the role that the platform plays in educating Arab students around the globe.
Supporting the Global Educational Community
For his part, His Excellency Salem Khalid Al Qasimi, the UAE Permanent Representative to UNESCO, said: “The UAE has contributed immensely to literacy, and it’s committed to executing and supporting initiatives that aim to develop educational and literacy tools and platforms that are available to anyone who wishes to learn.
His Excellency commended the efforts of MBRGI’s and Madrasa’s teams, who spared no effort in spreading knowledge and Arabic educational content. Through offering an innovative and pioneering digital curricula, they enhanced Arabic reading and writing skills across the globe.
Educational Mother-language Content
For his part, Dr. Waleed Al Ali, project manager of Madrasa reiterated that Madrasa is the largest initiative of its kind regionally, offering digital educational content in Arabic, the mother-language, and supporting digital content by offering it to the public free of charge. It operates in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to spread knowledge, support the Arabic language, and adopting innovative digital solutions.
Dr. Waleed said: “We are proud that the Madrasa platform, managed by MBRGI, has been awarded the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize, especially after having registered 75 million views of its educational Arabic lessons, available free of charge via its website. The platform amassed three million users from 55 countries, and we are determined to continue expanding the initiative.”
International Literacy Prize
Established in 1989, with the support of the Government of the Republic of Korean, the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize gives special consideration to mother language-based literacy development. The deeply rooted annual prize was named after King Sejong the Great, the innovator behind the phonetic system for writing the Korean language that is still in use.
A Special Place for Arabic Lessons
Madrasa provides students from kindergarten to grade 12 with a comprehensive education plan for key topics related to the Arabic language, including grammar, listening, speaking, reading, writing, rhetoric, poetry, vocabulary, and spelling, in a simplified manner. It complements existing curricula, utilizing technology and interactive digital and visual cues.
The Arabic lessons Madrasa provides focus on four main features – adopting innovative and attractive ways to teach Arabic; utilizing a smooth language and a modern method of presentation that suits the youth according to their ages; providing certified and high-quality content in line with the highest global standards, and with the contribution of a selection of educators and experts; and providing more than 1,000 educational videos covering the different levels of the Arabic language.
Madrasa offers 800 educational videos for grades 1 to 12, with clear outcomes and results, supported by examples and exercises. It also provides 200 animated stories, developed in collaboration with renowned publishing houses, to interest preschoolers and primary school children in reading.