MONA ABDUL KARIM AL YAFEI DELIVERS A LECTURE ON (TEACHING CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, DURING
On distance education in light of the challenges of (COVID-19) at Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, Mrs. Mona Abdul Karim Al Yafie, Director of the City, spoke at the first virtual scientific symposium organized yesterday by the Department of Early Education at the College of Education at Sultan Qaboos University entitled:
(Teaching children with disabilities during the Corona pandemic: Arab experiences and expertise) A number of Arab specialists under the direction of Dr. Ibrahim Al-Qaryouti from the Department of Early Education at Sultan Qaboos University participated.
Al-Yafei started her participation by introducing the city as the first Emirati institution to provide services to persons with disabilities since 1979. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah is the honorary president of the city.
Then, she talked about city's preparations at the beginning of the crisis caused by the Corona pandemic. The city decided to face the challenge with its experience and concern for its students, specialists and workers. The city confirmed its commitment and great concern for their health, in full accordance with the preventive, security and safety measures approved by the United Arab Emirates.
In this context, the city issued a guide for the continuity of service provision in order to ensure that students continue to receive services in an appropriate manner that meets their needs. The city is keen not to interrupt its services according to a work system based on three main precautionary aspects:
(Health and safety), (Activating the remote work strategy for employees and facilitating their mission), (Media coverage and continuity of communication).
She referred to the speech of the city’s general manager, through which she thanked the city’s work team, which continued to provide remote services in accordance with international best practices and included directives that were among the most important pillars of the success of the continuous work to this day.
After that, Mrs. Mona spoke about the stages of work, namely:
The preparatory stage, the executive stage, and the safe return stage.
The preparatory phase included (preventive and precautionary measures) from suspending children’s attendance at both the Early Intervention Center and Al Amal Kindergarten for the Deaf, with the continuation of individual sessions. With the continuous provision of individual sessions and taking all precautionary measures to ensure safety for all parties, in addition to many successive measures related to health and safety and workflow.
Al-Yafei talked about the technical transformation and the development of the infrastructure for work systems and technologies, such as the launch of the e-learning and training platform. She also mentioned the payment of tuition fees and bank transfers via a bank account, the adoption of the Zoom Meeting and WEBEX programs for meetings and training programs. In addition to the provision of (12) electronic payment devices with training of users to use them.
As for the executive phase, it included training and education for students, where (724) students benefited from the parents' platform for distance education. About (266) teachers and specialists supervised the publishing of (1257) educational videos, (580) instructional and (5934) educational goals. It also witnessed (259) virtual follow-up of (141) students integrated into nurseries and schools. The platform recorded the participation of (828) people in the virtual summer caravan, which included (virtual educational and professional workshops, activities, various events). Providing (22) data packages, (53) computers (99) tablets for students, and issuing an educational guide on staying at home.
At the same stage, (61) students with severe disabilities benefited from (486) treatment sessions, (1130) remote support rehabilitation services, and (403) activities, events and virtual trips for students. In addition to (133) virtual art workshops and (50) educational videos in sign language and (28) videos on digital security and cyberbullying.
This stage also witnessed (12,712) remote training sessions from March 2020 to date. Families sent (5260) videos, (1359) virtual follow-up, and the city conducted a COVID-19 examination for (403) students in coordination with the Sharjah Private Education Authority.
Many lectures, sessions and awareness workshops on health and safety measures, in addition to interactive activities preceded the Safe Return Phase.
Mona talked about the support services for families provided by the city. (682) parents benefited from the distance education platform, and families were exempted from paying the fees for the third semester for the year 2019-2020. The city issued a home guide to support students' families. Sharjah Charitable Society and the City provided support for (164) needy families. The city organized electronic groups for families according to the seasons and the type of disability. (1963) supportive family counseling and dialogue sessions were provided and (30) families benefited from the Together We Continue the Road to Quality Inclusive Education initiative.
After that, Mona spoke about the home guide, communicating with children, and training families on the basics of distance education, using the virtual platform, and communicating information and educational materials through social media. In addition, the continuation of awareness and education campaigns through social media, activating the live broadcast of awareness and education of the main specialties in the city, and holding meetings through various media.
In the field of supporting the educational and administrative staff, (266) teachers and specialists received training on the distance education platform with various virtual training programs. In addition, the city issued magnetic cards to (664) employees, and activated a self-service program for them. In addition to providing technical support and forming a technical committee specialized in reviewing and approving the photographic materials and videos before publishing them on the platform and securing periodic examination for (664) employees in cooperation with the responsible authority in the Emirate of Sharjah.
Community awareness and partnership
In this context, the city continued to organize informative campaigns, international days and weeks for disabilities through social media, activate the live broadcast of awareness and education for the main specialties. The city conducted meetings through various media, and cooperated with community institutions in support of the distance-learning program and followed up on the signing of agreements and memoranda of distance cooperation.
The Director of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services concluded by saying, "We did not imagine that the world would change like this. That we would virtually provide our services to people with disabilities. But we were able to achieve goals, overcome difficulties and face challenges with successful rational leadership, persistence, determination, dedication, teamwork and setting the alternative plans in preparation for the crises that may face us in the future".