H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, has congratulated students and their guardians on the start of the new school year.

In a statement marking the new academic year of 2017-2018, H.H. Sheikha Fatima said, "With the commencement of this school year, where the wise leadership has made significant decisions to standardise educational curricula in the country, both children and their parents must take advantage of the opportunities provided by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces."

She called on parents to encourage the youth to seek and acquire knowledge and to draw inspiration from the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan, who laid the nation's foundations and inspired future generations to strive for continued progress.

Sheikha Fatima welcomed the announcement made by the Ministry of Education and the Abu Dhabi Education Council regarding the unification of the education system at a state level. "This marks an extraordinary beginning for the 2017-2018 academic year, under the guidance of the Ministry of Education and the Abu Dhabi Education Council, as part of their efforts to promote the 'Emirati School Model'," she added.

Her Highness emphasised that the continued evaluation and development of education systems in UAE schools is characterised by high levels of achievement and progress that are consistent with the wise leadership's firm belief that the nation's youth are the most important investment, and have the right to innovative education systems that match with the UAE's future ambitions.

In her concluding remarks, Sheikha Fatima called on teachers and educators to be role models for their students, and to make every effort to keep pace with new approaches and reforms taken to ensure the development of the nation's educational systems that seek to benefit children and young people. "Teachers have a great responsibility to educate and influence our youth. Educator's efforts to expand and encourage our youth's education and help develop their moral and altruistic behaviours are always appreciated."