The Arab Reading Challenge crowned student Baraa Mohamed Ahmed Said as the champion of its ninth edition in the Republic of Djibouti, at the end of the qualifiers that witnessed great competition among participants in the largest Arabic-language reading event of its kind in the world.
Baraa Mohamed Ahmed Said, a Grade 11 student at Al Rahma School, was crowned during the closing ceremony of the ninth edition, organized under the auspices of the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training of the Republic of Djibouti, in the presence of Dr. Hatem Al Moudarraa, Dean of the Islamic Institute in Djibouti, Hussein Abdallah Belaleh and Ali Yousef Daallah, Advisors to the Minister of National Education and Vocational Training of Djibouti, Mohamed Moussa Adam, Head of the Community Education Department in the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training, Ahlam Thabet, Assistant Secretary General of the Ministry, and the participation of school principals, reading supervisors, and parents of students
The student, Baraa Mohamed Ahmed Said, presented a distinguished level during the qualifiers, and the jury awarded her the first place, where she will represent the Republic of Djibouti in the final stage in Dubai to choose the champion of the ninth edition of the Arab Reading Challenge, which witnessed a record participation of 32 million and 231 thousand students from 50 countries representing 132112 schools and supervised by 161004 supervisors and male and female supervisors.
Top male and female students
Ten students made it to the finals at the Djibouti level, and the list of first place winners, in addition to the first place winner, included: Zainab Abdulrahman Abdullah from Grade 7 at the Saudi School – Girls, Yahya Issam Abdulhakim from Grade 5 at the Saudi School – Boys, Hanaa Mohamed Sejah from Grade 7 at the Guidance School, Dhi Yazan Yazid Mohamed Ali from Grade 5 at the Yemeni School, Salma Farhan Akia from Grade 6 at the Saudi School – Girls, Abdullah Mohamed Nour from Grade 11 at the Abkh School, Khaled Bilal Ahmed from Grade 10 at the Saudi School – Boys, Inashi Hussein Mohamed from Grade 11 at Al Najah School, and Safia Abdou Habib from Grade 12 at the Islamic Institute – Girls, in addition to the first place.
Strengthening communication
His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Abdallah Mahioub, Secretary General of the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training in the Republic of Djibouti, said that the Arab Reading Challenge initiative has made a major contribution to increasing the interest of male and female students in Djibouti in the Arabic language, and has played a vital role in motivating them to read, developing their cognitive and cultural potential, and enhancing their communication with Arab students and Arab cultural products, noting that the participation of Djiboutian students in the qualifying rounds of the 9th edition of the Challenge received great support from official authorities, and wide community interaction that contributed to the success of the qualifiers.
He added: “I congratulate student Baraa Mohamed Ahmed Said for winning this precious title at the level of the Republic of Djibouti and representing our country during the final stage in Dubai, and I also congratulate the first place winners, all participants and parents of students who encouraged their children to read, persevere and participate in the competitions.”
His Excellency the Secretary General of the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training in the Republic of Djibouti praised the efforts of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives to spread the culture of reading among the rising generations, and its constant endeavor to implement quality projects to improve the educational and cultural reality in Arab societies.
Cognitive competition
For his part, Dr. Fawzan Al Khalidi, Director of Programs and Initiatives at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation, said that the Foundation continues to develop plans and methods of work to promote cognitive competition among Arab students, provide a model environment for excellence and creativity, and consolidate cooperation with ministries of education in Arab countries, in order to achieve the Foundation’s mission to promote the value of culture, reading and building knowledge among new generations, adding that the momentum gained by the 9th edition of the Arab Reading Challenge is a milestone in the challenge’s march.
Dr. Fawzan Al Khalidi congratulated the champion of the 9th edition of the Arab Reading Challenge in Djibouti, the top participants in the competitions, the students who interacted with the reading initiative, the parents of the students, all schools and their educational staff, and all those who contributed to spreading the culture of reading and strengthening Djibouti students’ attachment to the Arabic language.
The Director of Programs and Initiatives at MBRGF thanked the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training of the Republic of Djibouti for its keenness to publicize the objectives of the Arab Reading Challenge and encourage students to participate in its qualifiers.
Developing assimilation mechanisms
The Arab Reading Challenge, which was launched in the 2015-2016 academic year under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, aims to produce a comprehensive reading and knowledge movement, consolidate the culture of reading in Arabic as a language capable of keeping pace with all forms of literature, science and knowledge, encourage younger generations to use it in their daily dealings, develop mechanisms of comprehension and self-expression in a sound Arabic language, and develop creative thinking skills. The challenge seeks to promote the importance of cognitive reading in building self-learning skills and building the value system of young people by familiarizing them with the values, customs and beliefs of other cultures, which reinforces the principles of tolerance, coexistence and acceptance of others.
