Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Student Nardine Fadi Gerges Issa won the title of champion of the ninth edition of the Arab Reading Challenge at the Syrian Arab Republic level, following the conclusion of qualifying rounds in which 583,127 students, representing 5,005 schools, participated under the supervision of 9,749 supervisors.
Nardine Fadi Gerges Issa, a sixth-grade student at the Arab Women’s School, affiliated with the Hama Education Directorate, was announced as the winner of the title during the closing ceremony of the ninth edition of the Arab Reading Challenge, which was held in the Syrian capital, Damascus, in the presence of Eng. Ali Kaddah, Assistant Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic for Cabinet Affairs, His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Turko, Minister of Education in the Syrian Arab Republic, His Excellency Dr. Marwan Al-Halabi, Minister of Higher Education in the Syrian Arab Republic, His Excellency Dr. Musab Al-Ali, Minister of Health in the Syrian Arab Republic, His Excellency Mohammed Al-Saleh, Minister of Culture in the Syrian Arab Republic, and the participation of Dr. Fawzan Al-Khalidi, Director of Programs and Initiatives at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation, and a number of officials and educators in charge of the Arab Reading Challenge initiative and those interested in knowledge and cultural affairs, and a crowd of parents of the competing students.
The ceremony also honored Rashad Salem Ahmed from the Rural Damascus Education Directorate for winning the title of “Distinguished Supervisor,” and Al Bayan Model School for winning the title of “Distinguished School.” First place in the People of Determination category went to student Muhammad Turabah Dar, a ninth-grade student at Al-Risala School, affiliated with the Homs Education Directorate, at the conclusion of the competitions in this category, in which 220 male and female students participated.
Syria’s top competitors
In addition to student Nardine Fadi Gerges Issa, winner of the title of champion of the ninth session of the Arab Reading Challenge at the level of the Syrian Arab Republic, the list of the top ten included: Maria Al-Masry from the eleventh grade at Al-Risala School affiliated with the Education Directorate in Homs, Amal Diab from the tenth grade at Granada School (Homs), Sana Aqil from the eleventh grade at Al-Awael School (Aleppo), Al-Aysar Sultan Hamad from the eighth grade at Sawa Sharia School for Boys (Damascus countryside), Raji Qasim Al-Marai from the eleventh grade at the First Gifted School (Damascus), Anas Wissam Al-Jamal from the eleventh grade at the First Gifted School (Suwayda), Jana Jamal Mahmoud from the eighth grade at the First Gifted School (Daraa), Maryam Ghaith Subaih from the eleventh grade at the First Gifted School (Latakia), and Ibrahim Youssef Sabouni from the seventh grade at Ahmed Saleh School (Tartous).
Optimism
His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Turko said: “The broad participation of male and female students from the Syrian Arab Republic in the ninth edition of the Arab Reading Challenge initiative reflects the great interest the Syrian Ministry of Education places in encouraging students to read and compete for excellence in cognitive and cultural fields. It also reflects the Syrian community’s commitment to continuously improving the educational level of new generations, instilling interest in the Arabic language, and enhancing communication and interaction among the people of the Arab nation.”
His Excellency added: “We are very optimistic about the future, given the enthusiasm and excellence we witnessed from the students of the Syrian Arab Republic during the qualifiers of the ninth round. We have witnessed the diligence and perseverance of our male and female students, as well as the great desire to secure the top spot and compete for the prestigious title in the final stage hosted by Dubai in the sisterly United Arab Emirates. We are inspired by the many achievements recorded by Syrian students during their participation in the Arab Reading Challenge, the most recent of which was the victory of student Hatem Mohammed Jassim Al-Turkawi, who won the title of Arab Reading Challenge Champion in its eighth round, and before that, the crowning of student Sham Mohammed Al-Bakour with the prestigious title at the conclusion of the sixth round.”
His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Turko congratulated the winners, their families, and all participants in the ninth round’s Syrian qualifiers. He also thanked the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation for its efforts to spread the culture of reading, preserve the Arabic language, and help rising generations build a better future for Arab societies.
Cooperation and coordination
For his part, Dr. Fawzan Al Khalidi emphasized that the success achieved by the qualifiers for the ninth round of the Arab Reading Challenge in the Syrian Arab Republic stems from several aspects, including the intensity of participation, the level of students, and the cooperation of Syrian official authorities and educational institutions, as well as their coordination with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation throughout the qualifiers.
He said: “The students of the sisterly Syrian Arab Republic demonstrated a great passion for reading and increasing their knowledge in scientific and cultural fields, as well as a keen interest in the Arabic language and an ability to express their ideas and future aspirations with skill and clarity. This was evident throughout the qualifying stage and during the final competitions for the top students at the national level. Syrian students have achieved great distinction during the past editions, as the title of the Arab Reading Challenge went to the student Sham Al-Bakour in 2022, and in 2024 to the student Hatem Muhammad Jassim Al-Turkawi.”
On behalf of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and the Arab Reading Challenge team, Dr. Fawzan Al Khalidi congratulated all the winners in the ninth edition of the Arab Reading Challenge across the Syrian Arab Republic and their families. He also thanked the Syrian Ministry of Education and everyone who contributed to this new achievement.
Enriching human progress
The ninth edition of the Arab Reading Challenge, which falls under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation, saw a record participation of 32 million and 231 thousand students from 50 countries, representing 132,112 schools, under the supervision of 161,004 supervisors.
The Arab Reading Challenge, which was launched in its first edition during 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 instill reading, scholarship, and knowledge as a daily culture in students’ lives. It also aims to enhance the status of the Arabic language and its role in transmitting, producing, and disseminating knowledge, contributing to enriching human progress, supporting civilization, and revitalizing the region’s contribution to it. The challenge also aims to reinforce the importance of reading in building self-learning skills and fostering a value system for young people by exposing them to the values, customs, and beliefs of other cultures. This instills the principles of tolerance, coexistence, and acceptance of others, and encourages dialogue and cultural and human openness.
