News DeskDubai, UAE – The Al Futtaim Education Foundation, a prominent institution within the Al-Futtaim Group, has unveiled ‘Project Aghsan’ in collaboration with the Centre for Excellence in Arabic and Jabal Amman Publishers from Jordan. This ambitious initiative, considered the most comprehensive of its kind in the Arab world, aims to raise the standards of Arabic reading. By 2026, it plans to publish a remarkable 3,000 Arabic titles, focusing on improving the educational journey for children aged 3 to 11.
The grand launch ceremony, held in Dubai and attended by educational leaders and dignitaries, was graced by Omar Abdullah Al Futtaim, Vice Chairman and CEO of the Al-Futtaim Group and Chairman of the Board for the Al Futtaim Education Foundation.
Project Aghsan, underpinned by systematic research, seeks to nurture a love for reading among children by addressing challenges in children’s literature, including age-appropriate content and a coherent categorization system.
The project will be implemented in three phases:
- The first phase, for children aged 3 to 6, was inaugurated with 500 titles, focusing on basic phonetic reading with four-letter words.
- The second phase, targeting children aged 6 to 8, aims to enhance reading abilities by integrating sight words with phonetics and is expected to conclude by 2024.
- The third and final phase caters to children between 9 and 11, delving into intricate linguistic and phonetic patterns, with a slated completion by the end of 2026.
Project Aghsan promises to offer high-quality Arabic content and a holistic approach to children’s literature, spanning fiction and non-fiction.
Dr. Farah Sarraj, Chief Corporate Officer at Al-Futtaim School Management Company, stated, “Our commitment lies in offering comprehensive, innovative educational experiences that align with global best practices.” She emphasized the importance of cultivating critical thinking and exploratory abilities in the target audience.
Sinan Sweis, Founder and CEO of Jabal Amman Publishers, expressed pride in the partnership and its goal to instill a passion for the Arabic language among children.
The Project Aghsan represents a philosophy rooted in meticulous research by the Centre for Excellence in Arabic at the Al Futtaim Education Foundation. It aims to empower future UAE and Arab generations by enhancing their Arabic proficiency through innovative teaching methods and vocabulary development. The center has also identified 2,000 frequently used sight words in Arabic children’s texts.
This initiative marks a qualitative shift in the educational landscape, aligning with the UAE’s vision to strengthen the Arabic language’s importance in the country’s identity and culture.
