UAE offers full educational scholarships for children of healthcare workers

The UAE has announced a new programme – Hayyakum – that will enable children of healthcare workers across the country to access full educational scholarships to study at public schools.

The scholarship, that would be available to students from this academic year itself and last until their graduation from high school, will cover the cost of tuition, laptops and transportation for the students.

Applications for this academic year close on Wednesday, September 30. The programme will be led by the Ministry of Education in partnership with the Frontline Heroes Office.

Under the direction of Mohamed bin Zayed and overseen by Abdullah bin Zayed, the @MOEducationUAE, in partnership with the Frontline Heroes Office, launches the ‘Hayyakum’ initiative. pic.twitter.com/efcvqLSGax

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@admediaoffice) September 16, 2020

It was announced by way of a directive issued by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The Abu Dhabi Media Office tweeted on Wednesday that 1,850 children of frontline professionals have already received this scholarship. The children were being offered places at public schools across all seven emirates of the UAE.

Hayyakum aims not only to provide the children of frontline healthcare professionals with access to high-quality education but also help reduce the financial burden faced by such professionals. Additionally, it will encourage long-term retention of such frontline healthcare staff in the country.

“The Ministry on Education seeks, under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, to directly provide educational support for the children of frontline healthcare professionals so they can continue their invaluable and noble work,” said Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education.

In July, UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a Federal Decree No. 95 of 2020 to establish a Frontline Heroes Office, which will acknowledge the work and support the needs of frontline staff in the country.

The office will support a wide range of frontline workers including medical and non-medical staff working in the health sector, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, cleaning and services personnel, as well as protection and prevention workers, security and emergency workers, and sanitisation workers too.

Chaired by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the office which is headquartered in Abu Dhabi will grant rewards, present certificates of appreciation, and nominate some to receive honorary medals too.

In a remarkable development earlier this week, the UAE has approved the emergency use of the Covid-19 vaccine – which is currently in Phase III trials – on frontline workers dealing with Covid-19 patients.