UAE initiative tackles bad habits

Pupils are taught ‘social engagement’ Abu Dhabi - Arabstoday Sharjah, the third largest emirate in the United Arab Emirates [UAE], has launched a groundbreaking education initiative to tackle bad behaviour in schools, aiming to curtail truancy, smoking, bullying and violence amongst students. The programme, known as “Security Culture,” will run in conjunction with the Sharjah Police and Sharjah Education Council [SEC] throughout the 2013 academic year in over 90 schools nationwide, including 87 state schools and six private schools. Authorities hope special instruction will reach around 4,000 students, from primary up to high school ages, across the emirate. “Skilled police officers will visit schools at least once a week to teach students the values of Islam and social engagement such as respect, patience and obedience in addition to love and faithfulness to one’s country,” Brigadier Abdullah Mubarak al-Dukhan, deputy general commander of Sharjah Police, said.