Arabic language competition winners announced at Sharjah International Book Fair

Sharjah, 11 November 2017:  Sharjah’s Fatima Bint Abdul Malik Primary School has been crowned champion of the second edition of the Lughati Cup competition, organised by Lughati, the Sharjah-based initiative to support Arabic learning the ‘smart’ way.

The Arabic language competition targeting grade 2 students across Sharjah, crowned three winners yesterday (Thursday) at the 36th Sharjah International Book Fair, running at Expo Centre Sharjah until 11 November.

Securing the first place, Fatima Bint Abdul Malik Primary School received the Lughati Cup 2017 along with a cash prize of AED 10,000 - who won second place in last year’s competition. The second place winner, Al Nakhilat Primary School, won a cash prize of AED 7,000, while the third place winner, Omama Bint Abi Al Aas School won AED 5,000.

Special prizes recognising the outstanding efforts of participating schools were awarded, along with participation certificates to all competing students and their supervisors. The three winning schools were selected among 32 public schools who registered to enter the Lughati Cup 2017 competition.

Aisha Saif Al Khaja, Head of the Executive Committee of Lughati initiative, Badria Al Ali, Manager of Lughati, and Marwa Al Khatib, Assistant Manager of Lughati, gave away the awards and certificates to the winners, and honoured the competition’s jury members as well as members of the Ministry of Education, for their efforts in making the competition a success, including Dr Amna Al Dahak Al Shamsi, Assistant Undersecretary for Care and Activities Sector at the Ministry of Education, and Hessa Al Khaja, Head of Sharjah Educational Zone.

Badria Al Ali congratulated the winners, commending their linguistic skills and capabilities. She noted the vital role parents and teachers of the children from these winning schools play in making every effort to make Arabic fun, interesting and approachable for them. This approach, she highlighted has led these young learners of Arabic build their vocabularies and enabled them to speak fluently.

“We were very pleased to see the high level of Arabic language skills these children brought to the table, especially on the last day of ‘Lughati Cup’. The way the competitors approached the contest spoke volumes about their great interest and love of the Arabic language, and their mature understanding of the language’s correct application. The main aim of the Lughati Cup, each year, is to instill a love of Arabic language among Sharjah’s future generations, ensuring they will maintain its strength and sustainability in years to come,’ Al Ali added.

The supporting of Arabic education in public schools in Sharjah using state-of-the-art technology was officially announced in 2013 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. The initiative was approved by His Highness in January 2016 under its new title ‘Lughati’ to develop education in the emirate, preserve the Arabic language and endear Arabic studies to children by incorporating modern methods.