Time limit of three weeks for 111 UNESCO member schools to register for evaluation project

The UAE National Commission for Education, Culture and Science has announced the launch of an evaluation project of 111 Emirati member schools of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, Associated Schools Network (ASPnet).

The project aims to identify the member schools that are effective in applying the conditions and standards for achieving the goals of UNESCO, and perform a complete evaluation by a specialised committee formed by the Organisation at the end of the current year.

The Commission called on the schools to register, with the aim of performing a review of effective and ineffective schools, in a bid to update their individual performance. It also set a time limit of three weeks, starting from 10th July, for registration.

The schools will be evaluated according to a series of standards set by UNESCO, including comprehensive education, cultural education and sustainable development, while two summit meetings will be held during the current year.

The Commission is the body authorised to be the communication link between UNESCO and its member schools.

The Commission called on academic institutions and civil and private societies in the country to note the importance of the presence and establishment of UNESCO clubs that serve the community, as these clubs are concerned with the role of youth and the community. It also expressed its desire to connect these clubs to the UAE Vision 2021.

The UNESCO clubs are divided into three categories, the first being clubs in schools and academic institutions, and their members are usually students and teachers. The second are clubs from higher education organisations, higher education institutions, university student groups and educational boards. The third category are clubs with wide ranging memberships, and their members are usually leaders of cultural and community service organisations.

The Commission stated that its project for the schools that are international members of UNESCO relies on several main principles, including spreading the ideas of democracy and equality to students, developing their abilities for discussion, dialogue and expressing their opinions, as well as promoting freedom of expression and national belonging.

It added that the UNESCO member schools are committed to strengthening the supreme principles of the United Nations through leading projects, to prepare children and youth to effectively deal with the challenges facing a world which is becoming more complicated and interconnected.

The UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet) currently has around 10,000 members in over 180 countries. Membership is open to public or private educational institutions which provide pre-primary, primary, secondary, technical or vocational education, or teacher training, in formal or non-formal settings.

Membership is based on a firm commitment by the school leadership and community to promote the ideals and values of UNESCO by reinforcing the humanistic, ethical, cultural and international dimensions of education.

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