Back-2-School Surprises 2004 takes off with colourful opening ceremony

The vibrant ceremony, in which more than 40 children and young adults participated, was organised by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED).

Mr. Saeed Al Naboodah, CEO of Dubai Summer Surprises, Mr. Ali Ibrahim, Deputy Director General, DED and hundreds of visitors, media persons and children attended the opening event, which kicked off the week long Back-2-School Surprises, scheduled to last till August 18, 2004.

"The greatest wealth of our nation is our extensive human resources and we need to ensure that our children have access to the best possible education, because education is the only long-term solution to improving the quality of life," said Mr. Ali Ibrahim, Deputy Director General, DED. "The Back-2-School Surprises commemorates the role of education in steering progress and development in the country," he added.

"In the last three decades since the formation of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, has been driving the development of the education sector in the country. Through this programme today, we would like to offer a heartfelt tribute to his inspiring vision and continuous care for the people of the nation," said Mr. Ibrahim.

"The fast rate of growth witnessed in the UAE has often left young national children unaware of the hardships and difficulties of earlier times," said Dhabya Buti Al Suwaidi, Head, Back-2-School Surprises Committee, DED. "This event has been specially designed to draw attention to the significant progress made by the country in the last 30 years, which is in large measure due to the inspiring leadership of Sheikh Zayed and his emphasis on education," she added.

The inaugural ceremony began with a documentary that traced the growth and development of education in the UAE from the early pre-oil days of the Al Mutawwa to the modern, well-fitted schools and colleges of today and laid special emphasis on the contribution of Sheikh Zayed to the fast-paced growth in the education sector.

The film was followed by a colourful 40-member operetta on the development of education in the UAE. More than 20 children dressed in traditional clothing recreated the age-old village system of education supervised by a Mutawwa, which gradually transformed to a modern system.

Several activities have been lined up at the Deira City Centre, Bur Juman Centre, Al Ghurair Centre, Hamrain Centre, Mercato Shopping Mall, Al Bustan Centre and Oasis Mall for the Back-2-School Surprises. Sponsors for the Back-2-School Surprises include Polaroid, Commercial Bank of Dubai and the Balloon Lady.