Arabic lessons connect youngsters to UAE heritage, say residents

11 June 2025 00:15
AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi residents were all praise for the latest education mandate requiring 240 minutes of Arabic lessons each week for kindergartners.It's more than just learning the language, they said, it's about embracing the UAE culture and connecting children to the country's heritage.Starting September, all young learners enrolled in pre-KG to KG2 classes in the emirate shall receive four hours of structured, age-appropriate Arabic instruction per week, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) announced on Monday. This requirement will be increased to 300 minutes weekly starting from the 2026/27 academic year.Kindergarten teacher Samiya Ali described the initiative as a meaningful step toward nurturing a culturally grounded generation."It's about connecting the next generation to their linguistic heritage, which goes beyond literacy," said Ali, who teaches KG1 students at Al Forsan Charter Kindergarten School."Arabic is a cultural bridge that connects young learners to their history, identity, and community — it's more than just a subject."The new ADEK School KG Arabic Curriculum Policy is grounded in robust research. A survey conducted by the education department revealed that although Arabic is widely spoken at home, many children still lack confidence in using the language.To address this, the policy places a strong emphasis on parental involvement. Families will be equipped with resources to help their children practise new vocabulary at home and engage in reading stories.Khayal Alhadhrami, a guardian, welcomed the role she would gladly play in supporting children who are learning the language."It is crucial that children learn Arabic at a young age. It enhances cultural identity, creates a solid linguistic basis, and facilitates communication with the Arab world," Alhadhrami said.For Muslim families, it becomes even more significant since Arabic is the language of the Holy Quran, she said.'Children who learn the language feel prouder — like they belong — because they have better awareness of who they are and where they're from,' Alhadhrami said.The ADEK policy will be implemented in a dual-track system: one designed to deepen mother tongue skills for native Arabic speakers, and another tailored for non-native speakers and newcomers.
Learning will be engaging, built around play, storytelling, songs, and exploration — promising to make Arabic a language students look forward to using every day, the department said.
Source: AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI

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