Abu Dhabi [UAE], May 29: Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education, honoured the winners of the inaugural edition of 'My School. My Identity', the largest art competition by the Ministry of Education (MoE) across public schools in the UAE. This initiative aimed to showcase students and teachers by transforming school campuses into vibrant reflections of the UAE's heritage with the aim of creating an environment that fosters national pride.
The Ceremony was held in the presence of Sara Musallam, Chairperson of the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge; Dr. Omar Al Darei, Chairman of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat; Eng. Mohammed Al Qasim, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education; May Al Taee, Vice Chancellor of the Emirates College for Advanced Education; Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Acting Executive Director of the Heritage Awareness and Knowledge Sector at Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority; and Counsellor Saeed Al Mannai, Heritage Advisor at the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority.
The event brought together representatives of key cultural government entities, including the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, and Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center. Judging panel members, senior officials, educators, artists, parents, and students from across the UAE were also present.
During her speech, Al Amiri congratulated the winning schools, affirming that the first edition of the competition achieved remarkable milestones that reflect a spirit of national pride and educational commitment. She also praised the quality of the submitted works, which embodied creativity and teamwork. She added: "This competition unveiled emerging creative talents and illustrated how art, when thoughtfully integrated into education, can be a powerful catalyst for character building and instilling pride in our cultural identity."
Over 140,000 students and 11,000 teachers from public schools nationwide participated in the first edition of the 'My School. My Identity' competition and took part in more than 1,000 workshops and artistic activities. They submitted over 5,000 artworks, including fine art, glass and sand paintings, handicrafts, Arabic calligraphy, heritage drawings, gypsum art, sculptures, heritage-themed stationery, interactive rooms simulating the UAE's diverse landscapes, and live visual displays showcasing the nation's rich heritage. School facilities were transformed into immersive showcases embodying Emirati heritage and values, using diverse innovative materials and tools.
The ceremony highlighted the competition's phases and exhibited selected artworks. The Ministry also extended its appreciation to the jury members, comprising artists and educational and cultural experts, for their vital role in evaluating the entries based on criteria such as originality, quality, technical compliance, safety, and the integration of education and creativity.
The Zayed Educational Complex in the Awafi area in Ras Al Khaimah won first place and received a cash prize of AED 100,000. Second place went to Al Fujairah Girls School For Cycle2, which took home a prize of AED 70,000. Al Fayhaa Kindergarten Al Bateen in Abu Dhabi came third with a prize of AED 50,000. Schools from fourth to 10th place received a prize of AED 25,000 each.
These included, in order from fourth to 10th place: Zayed Educational Complex in the Al Suyoh area in Sharjah, Al Sumou School in Al Ain, Al Shaheed Tariq Al Shehhi Kindergarten in the Shaam area in Ras Al Khaimah, Al Marfa Girls School in Mirfa in the Al Dhafra Region, Mohammed Noor Boys School Cycle 2 in the Rashidiya area in Dubai, Al Jahili Girls School in Al Ain, and Al Hudaiba Girls School Cycle 3 in the Al Hudaiba area in Ras Al Khaimah.
Source: Emirates News Agency
