First batch of pupils from the Arab world will join in September 2021
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, launched the Digital School, an initiative that aims to provide certified online education to students across the world, primarily those belonging to underserved communities.
The digital school seeks to provide an education to one million refugee and underprivileged children over the next five years.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Global Initiatives is behind the project that will see the first batch of pupils join the school digitalschool.org in September 2021.
Refugee children from countries including Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan are the focus. MBRGI is seeking accreditation for the school from ministries of education in different parts of the world. An accredited school diploma will help pupils get admission in university.
A pilot launched this month with 20,000 pupils enrolled and will run until August of next year.
The Digital School will blend live and self-paced virtual classes in Math, Science, Arabic, Computer Studies and English powered by interactive simulation, game-based learning, and AI-driven adaptive learning modules. Virtual classrooms will enable students to interact with their teachers and fellow learners from all over the world as well as attain a globally-recognised school certificate or credentials that will enable them to complete their university education or apply for jobs.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, described the school as filling a “scientific and educational gap in the Arab world”.
“We have millions of children who miss years of education due to economic conditions or conflicts. And if no one moves to address these challenges, there will come generations led by ignorance and extremism, instead of leading their homelands with the light of knowledge and knowledge,” he said.
The initiative’s implementation will be overseen by the ‘Alliance for the Future of Digital Learning’ that brings together specialised education and technology experts from all over the world. The Alliance’s advisory board features experts from leading global universities including Harvard, Stanford, New York and MIT.
Using advanced learning technologies backed by learning science and artificial intelligence, the Digital School will introduce a new learning experience to students most in need. The initiative seeks to empower students living in refugee camps and marginalised communities with a rich and dynamic digital education aligned with national and global school systems. Teachers will be selected based on their research, interpersonal, organisational and leadership skills, creativity, initiative and affinity for working with young people.
In its initial phase, the Digital School will operate from November 2020 to August 2021 with 20,000 participating students in four countries, featuring three virtual classes a week over three months. The system will be further developed based on feedback and an extensive research and development process. After adjustments are made to the system, the Digital School will officially receive its first batch of students in September 2021 for the academic year 2021-2022.
