UAE Minister of Education, His Excellency Dr. Hanif Hassan, has inaugurated the first of 20 Kindergarten schools equipped with the KidSmart Early Learning Centres.The global IBM KidSmart program which is made up of PC-based tools that encourage collaborative learning using software early years learning tools, is currently being rolled out in areas within Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain and Ajman. The Minister told those in attendance, "This program underscores the important role of information technology in our children's education from an early age. The KidSmart system offers opportunities for computer-based learning and is part of the Ministry's strategy to develop public education in the UAE".
AME.INFO reports "the Kidsmart initiative includes the gift by IBM of 50 specially equipped early learning centres designed by IBM in collaboration with children's equipment manufacturer Little Tikes. The units are designed to allow two or more children to work together, sharing learning experiences driven by educational software developed by Riverdeep.
The software, which has been translated into Arabic, covers basic skills in maths, science and creative writing and thinking".
