Children of frontliners eligible for full scholarships till graduation
- Last updated: September 16, 2020 | 17:59
Under the direction of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and overseen by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chairman of the Education and Human Resources Council, the Ministry of Education in partnership with the Frontline Heroes Office launches “Hayyakum,” an initiative that will provide scholarships for children of frontline healthcare professionals to attend public schools across the UAE.
“Hayyakum” aims not only to provide the children of frontline healthcare professionals with access to high quality education, but also to alleviate the financial stress faced by many frontline healthcare professionals around payment of tuition fees - ultimately encouraging the long-term retention of frontline healthcare professionals in the UAE.
So far, 1,850 children of frontline healthcare professionals across the UAE have received the scholarships, which will commence this academic year and run until year of graduation. Applications for this academic year close on Sept.30, 2020.
This initiative is part of a wider collaborative framework between the Ministry of Education and the Frontline Heroes Office to ensure sustainable funding for the scholarship program and also launch and implement other education-focused initiatives to benefit the children of frontline professionals across the UAE.
The scholarships will be available for the children of frontline healthcare professionals, and will cover the cost of tuition, laptops and transportation until graduation from high school. Recipients of the scholarships reflect the diverse demographic of the UAE population, with children of frontline professionals from a variety of nationalities being offered places in public schools across the seven emirates.
Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of the Frontline Heroes Office, expressed his gratitude to the staff who have placed the health and safety of people across the UAE ahead of their own: “Our frontline professionals are the true heroes of the UAE and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts. Their selfless service to their communities has helped us to get through this difficult time and they are a shining example of the true values and culture of the UAE.
“We at Frontline Heroes Office hope to provide the same level of support and compassion that those on the frontline have provided to millions of people across our nation. We wish their children every success as they embark upon a new school year and we look forward to watching them follow in their parents’ footsteps to become outstanding members of society.”
Chairman of the Board of the Frontline Heroes Office expressed his deep thanks to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his dedicated support and appreciation to all frontline heroes and His Highness caring for their needs and families in these challenging times.
Hussain Bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education said: “The ‘Hayyakum’ initiative launched by the Ministry in partnership with Frontline Heroes Office showcases the immense kindness the UAE is known for.”
Al Hammadi added: "The Ministry on Education seeks, under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to directly provide educational support for the children of frontline healthcare professionals so they can carry continue their invaluable and noble work.”
Al Hammadi, continued: “This initiative is a true example of our community solidarity, reflecting the inspirational human centric path created by our leadership and founding Fathers allowing us to strengthen the bonds of harmony between each individual living across the Emirates.”
The partnership with the Ministry of Education is the first announced in conjunction with the Frontline Heroes Office, which will deliver on its mandate by developing a wide range of partnerships and collaborations with government entities, the private sector and the wider community across the Emirates to develop initiatives and special programs that directly support frontline heroes.
The Frontline Heroes Office was established in July 2020 by decree of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and is under the direction of the Chairman of the Frontline Heroes Office, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The Frontline Heroes Office will support a comprehensive range of frontline professionals, including medical and non-medical staff working in the health sector, such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, cleaning and services personnel, as well as protection and prevention workers, security and emergency workers, and sanitisation workers.