New Arabic e-learning programme to benefit 50 million Arab students

More than 12,000 volunteers have signed up to support the Mohammed Bin Rashid Arabic e-learning Project's translation challenge.

Launched earlier during the week, the Translation Challenge called on all Arabs to help translate 5,000 videos and 11 million words of maths and science material to Arabic, to be available online for free, for over 50 million Arab students from kindergarten to grade 12.

According to Emirates news agency WAM, the online initiative aims to "lay the foundation of a new knowledge base, and to establish the future of science and math excellence among Arab students".

During the lunch, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai said, "Providing high quality education in science and math to all Arab students is integral to rebooting our civilisational development, eLearning is the fastest way to bridge the educational gap in the Arab world.

"Our goal is to provide high standard academic material in science and maths to all Arab students; this project is the first step in a long journey to improve education in the Arab world, and make it accessible to millions of Arab students. Translation is the foundation of a cultural renaissance, and opens the doors to intellectual enlightenment.

"The reality of the education system in the Arab world may be disappointing, however today we light a candle of hope. I believe in the unbound potential of Arab students when they have access to the necessary resources, tools and material to excel."