GEMS Education and Microsoft collaborate to develop 'School of the Future'

The initiative, the first of its kind in the region, will include development of the 'School of the Future', a visionary educational model that is rooted in empowering the school community through continuous, adaptive and relevant learning. The programme aims to inspire personal responsibility for learning in tandem with class based learning. The entire programme will be supported through Microsoft certified training for teachers and the installation of Microsoft certified ICT labs.

The 'State-of The Art Education Solutions' will include the launch of learning gateways in GEMS Schools. The integrated framework will provide parents, students and teachers access to online lessons and tutorials. Students will be able to access learning and express themselves in new and innovative ways and will be able to participate in online group work, bringing a new dimension to teaching and learning. Parents will be able to log on to track student's progress across a full range of subjects on a daily basis. Additional benefits will include opportunities for on-line dialogue between parents and teachers and options to access electronic school services.

"Together with Microsoft, we believe that these new initiatives will bring learning and teaching to a higher standard, one that is more reflective of the needs of the next decade. This move supports GEMS core value of forward thinking, equipping our students to meet the challenges of the future and to further strengthen the teacher student parent partnership in a child's development and learning," stated Sunny Varkey, Chairman, GEMS Education.

"It is our responsibility to ensure that the students in our schools are ready to handle the dynamics of a changing world; this initiative will help us do that successfully, "he commented further.

"Microsoft believes that ICT can accelerate the delivery of education, presenting real opportunities for economic and social advancement in even the poorest countries," said Charbel Fakhoury, General Manager - Microsoft Gulf. "Today's students are tomorrow's business leaders, and we are very excited about working with GEMS to scale up education," he added.
Work on the GEMS and Microsoft 'State of the Art Education Solutions' and 'School of the Future' projects is underway with first phase of implementation in GEMS Schools to be launched early in 2007.