Smart safety program targets 62,000 students in kindergarten and primary schools
MOE applies Smart Safety
program at public schools
A strategic collaboration between the UAE
Ministry of Education, Ministry of Interior,
and the Underwriters Laboratories, has re-
sulted in the launch of the ‘Smart Safety
Program,’ which was applied to students of
kindergarten and primary schools in early
January (beginning of second academic
semester) across all public schools. Thus,
the UAE becomes the world’s first country
to introduce smart safety programs in its
schools.
Students will get an accredited certificate
after completing the program from all par-
ticipating entities namely the Ministry of
Education, Ministry of Interior and Emir-
ates Intellectual Property Association.
The Ministry of Education launched the
Smart Safety Program that is considered
one of the active initiatives of the Ministry
of Interior. It targets 62,000 students at
public schools and aims to protect chil-
dren against various risks, notably Internet
risks.
The program aims primarily to deliver edu-
cational messages to children about sev-
eral risks, notably Internet risks, through
animated shows. The program’s general
objective is to encourage public school ad-
ministrations to boost their students’ health
awareness about security and safety.
The Ministry is aiming to expand the pro-
gram
in
the com-
ing
pe-
riod
to
include all
academic
s t a g e s ,
after evaluating the results of its applica-
tion to kindergarten and primary school
students.
The initiative is targeting children between
the ages of three and eight, aiming to
develop their skills about safe use of the
Internet, protection against fires and op-
timum steps to be taken if a fire occurs,
as well as maintaining the school environ-
ment.
The program includes the discussion
about eight components through eight
animated videos addressed to students,
which are smart safety and health, smart
safety with water, smart safety during fires,
smart safety at home, smart safety during
transportation, smart safety and morals
and ethics and smart safety in protecting
the environment.
The UAE is a leading country in child pro-
tection. The country spared no effort in
caring for and protecting its children, as
well as providing the necessary adequate
environment for their nurture, particularly
within the education field.
The Smart Safety Program is a major and
important step to raise the awareness of
students and develop and improve their
skills and capabilities to deal with different
situations, at an early age.
The program also gives the young stu-
dents an understanding of
intellectual property and self-
care responsibilities via spe-
cially produced videos that
have been cre-
ated especially
for kindergarten
and primary school students in partnership
with the Walt Disney Company. These vid-
eos have been created with the objective
of featuring authentic Arab culture, tradi-
tions and practices.
The students’ physical, mental and psy-
chological health is one of the top priorities
of the Ministry’s 2015-2021 development
plan. The Ministry is seeking to offer an
ideal learning environment in kindergar-
tens and schools across the UAE, which
can help students acquire the 21st century
skills, life skills and the necessary tools re-
lated to creativity and innovation.
It also raises the awareness among kin-
dergarten children and students of the first
grade schools to develop their skills and
teach them safe practices and behavior
through smart means and advanced appli-
cations that will be implemented by highly
skilled and professional female school-
teachers, librarians and learning resource
personnel.
The program will be applied to students
through learning resource personnel who
account for 202 at public schools, during
library, activity and substitute classes. Stu-
dents are expected to receive a certificate
after each educational program, to carry
the initiative’s logo. Students are also ex-
pected to be given another certificate af-
ter completion of all educational programs
to carry the logos of all involved entities,
namely the Ministry of Education, Ministry
of Interior and Emirates Intellectual Prop-
erty Association.
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