The Arab Reading Challenge, part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, today announced that it will open online voting for the best participating school to the public on Friday.
DUBAI, (Pakistan Point News - 26th Oct, 2018) The Arab Reading Challenge, part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, today announced that it will open online voting for the best participating school to the public on Friday.
Of the 52,000 schools that have entered the third edition of the contest, five were shortlisted to compete for the Outstanding School title that features a cash prize of AED1 million. Entrants include Mujama’a Al Salam School from Saudi Arabia, Al Ikhlas Al Ahlia School from Kuwait, Abdul Hamid Dar Obaid Sidi Ali Secondary School from Algeria, Al Wahda Secondary School from Morocco, and Banat Al-Awda Primary School from Palestine.
Najla Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the Arab Reading Challenge, said, "This year’s surge in participation of schools from around the Arab world is testament to the increased competitiveness of the Arab Reading Challenge that has become an added motivation factor."
The number of competing schools has grown by more than 11,000 on 2017, with the majority showing a steady increase in student participation since the launch of the challenge three years ago.
The total value of cash prizes amounts to AED11 million (US$3 million). The Outstanding School will receive AED1 million, while the Outstanding Supervisor walks away with AED300,000. The Champion of the Arab Reading Challenge, to be announced at the award ceremony on October 30 in Dubai, will win AED500,000.
The finalists in the Outstanding School category underwent several qualifying stages that comprised selection by region and country. The winner will be chosen by a committee of education experts and administrators, with the popular vote weighing. Members of the public will be able to cast their votes online through the Arab Reading Challenge website from 26th to 30th October.
Mujama’a Al Salam School made the shortlist owing to its ‘I Spend My Morning Reading’ programme that was also implemented in neighbouring schools due to the success it achieved. The school increased its participation by 100 percent this year to reach 600 students, who read 12,000 books and organized 400 events under the supervision of five Arab Reading Challenge teams.
Abdul Hamid Dar Obeid Sidi Ali Secondary School from Algeria is also participating with 762 students. Meanwhile, Al Ikhlas Al Ahlia School has qualified for the finals with an impressive 7,871 participants under the motto ‘Reading is Life’ that aims to enhance the passion for reading among its students.
Al Wahda Secondary School from Morocco has joined the challenge this year through organising 60 reading classes in the library. For its part, Banat Al-Awda Primary School with 860 participating students developed an action plan to enhance cooperation between students, teachers and parents, conduct brainstorming and training sessions, and reach out to the local community.
