Madrasa gets UNESCO International Literacy Prize

Madrasa, an Arabic e-learning platform available to more than 60 million students for free, has been awarded the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Award. The award was presented in recognition of the company’s efforts to provide free digital educational content in Arabic, contributing to global efforts to promote literacy in the mother tongue.

The award was presented to Dr Walid Al Ali, advisor to Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) and director of Madrasa, and Farah Al Azab, senior project manager of MBRGI, at an award ceremony organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in Abidjan, the economic capital of Ivory Coast.

The UAE received the prize for the first time, becoming the only Arab country to receive it in 2022, along with renowned laureate countries such as the UK and India, winners of the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize, and Brazil, South Africa and Malaysia, winners of the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy.

Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, MBRGI Secretary General, said: “Providing educational opportunities for all, in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, is a fruitful Emirati model that empowers future generations. It also fosters a culture of lifelong learning, cultural and scientific diversity that accelerates the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and returns the region to fame as a key donor to humanity.”

Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, said that Madrasa’s victory as a public Emirati Arab platform for tens of millions of students is a recognition of the UAE’s various educational and cultural programmes and initiatives.

For his part, Salem Khalid Al Qasimi, UAE permanent representative to UNESCO, said: “The UAE has contributed immensely to literacy and is committed to implementing and supporting initiatives aimed at developing educational and literacy tools and platforms that are accessible to everyone who wants to learn.”

He commended the MBRGI and Madrasa teams for sparing no effort in disseminating knowledge and Arabic educational content. By offering innovative and ground-breaking digital learning programmes, they have improved reading and writing skills in Arabic worldwide.

Source: Dubai Media Office

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