‘Inherent value of critical thinking begins at home’

An Emirati woman, whose arithmophilia, the love for numbers, assisted her father’s trucking business – when she was only a girl – said that society must be the enabler of critical thinking, which plays a substantial role in what life brings, such as gender equality, the world has been laboriously working on.

The inherent value of critical thinking, according to Dr. Sayeda Almansoori, Chief Accountant, Presidential Court, “leading and mentoring a team of skilled professionals while overseeing complex financial operations with precision and integrity,” begins at home.

“Based on my experience, critical thinking is an extremely important skill that must be cultivated from an early age. Introducing school subjects that encourage critical thinking and that motivate children to ask more questions and seek out information, and participating in debates, are effective ways to nurture a generation of thinkers.”

By email, Almansoori continued: “We do not want future generations to believe what they watch or read without genuine understanding and awareness. Our role as adults is to consistently ask children guiding questions: Where did you read that? Who said that? What is the evidence? What are the sources? Are there alternative viewpoints? How did you reach this conclusion?’”

“Equally important is raising awareness among parents about the value of developing critical thinking skills in their children, through workshops that help them reinforce these skills outside of school, particularly at home.”

Born in the capital in 1986, Almansoori was “always” on cloud nine whenever the teacher picked her “to solve maths problems on the board and explain it to classmates. I always looked forward to that.”

That being the young teacher, extended to tutoring her “younger sibling.”

Her “free time” devoted to “preparing lessons for the next school day out of sheer love for the subject.”

In the initial interview, Almansoori volunteered that her “love for numbers and critical thinking” budded in her formative years. That “challenging tasks, the kind that required patience and precision to reach a final decision,” were a magnet.

On her passion and so her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the Zayed University in 2009 while her “secondary school scientific track” also included Physics and Chemistry, she recalled those instances when her father asked for help, in the calculation of the drivers’ working hours and organisation of their working schedules, relative to the “fleet of trucks operating at construction sites.”

“The experience taught me early on that when matters are calculated and organised properly and promptly, they produce accurate results. Results we can rely on to make sound decisions,” she replied, also asked on who had greatly influenced her.

Looking back on her “undergraduate studies,” Almansoori said: “I developed a strong appreciation for analysis and deduction.”

Analysis and deduction, which, according to cognitive psychologists and particularly the 1900-founded American Philosophical Association, “are core cognitive skills” for the evaluation of information during critical thinking.

Almansoori elucidated, pointing out that the “process” is the deterrent to becoming prey to fabricated news and information: “We must ask ourselves what logic underlies the information, what evidence supports it, and whether alternative explanations exist. Critical thinking is essential in most areas of life, particularly in scientific research, decision-making, and legislation.”

Almansoori on the other hand, has other interests – “fishing, travelling, and writing” – and recently completed her doctorate degree from the 183-year-old Coventry University, a public research institute in England.

Her dissertation on gender equality “examined the experiences and perceptions of female public servants in the UAE public sector regarding gender-equality policies and reforms in the country.”

She said: “Critical thinking is a powerful tool because it allows us to analyse behaviours and claims rigorously. For example, if someone told me that ‘the Emirati woman is happy,’ only after this process of examination and deduction could I responsibly draw conclusions that might inform policy or further research.”

For gender equality, Almansoori said: “Equal opportunity consistently creates an atmosphere of positive competition, raises productivity, and builds an educated, cultured society that works diligently to serve its nation.”