ADEK: A 19 percent increase in student participation during the lema? programme this trimester

Lema? continues to go from strength to strength, emphasized programme manager
 
Abu Dhabi, 19 December 2018:   A record number of 28,885 pupils across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi took part in a series of interactive workshops this autumn as an introduction to the fun side of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.
 
Between October 7th and November 15th, over 400 sessions were organized in schools across Abu Dhabi, the Al Ain and Al Dhafra regions as part of the latest ‘lema?’ tour, a programme run by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK).
 
It is a 19 per cent increase on the previous student participation record set during Trimester Three of the last tour - which brings together teams of expert scientists and educators to introduce young people to the strange, quirky and exciting side of STEM subjects.
 
This year’s workshop series features a new ‘Crazy Chemistry’ show, as well as sessions on human biology, space and aviation, ICT and robotics, to nurture the next generation of the Emirate’s scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs.
 
It is part of ADEK’s quest to establish STEM subjects within the education system and create an innovative and knowledge-based hub in the UAE.
 
Speaking about the latest participation figures for lema?, Ms. Fatima Al Zaabi, Programme Manager of Special Projects at ADEK, said: “We want to ensure our young people are well-prepared and equipped with the skills they need to succeed in a modern fast-moving economy. STEM skills are becoming ever more important as technology plays an increasing role in the workplace.
 
“Science and mathematics play a pivotal role in encouraging critical thinking skills among youth. That is why we have designed the lema? programme to be as fun, engaging and exciting as possible – showing young people across Abu Dhabi that STEM can be fun and interesting.
 
“The fact that a record number of students took part in the latest lema? tour shows that this approach is working and the programme continues to go from strength to strength,” concluded Ms. Al Zaabi.  
 
A survey of teachers last year found that 100 per cent of teachers felt that the lema? workshops increased enthusiasm for learning STEM subjects among students, with 86 percent stating they were very satisfied and 14 percent were satisfied. 
 
The ‘lema?’ programme has been running since 2012, visiting students from Grades 3 to 7 in public and private schools across the Abu Dhabi, the Al Ain and Al Dhafra regions. 
 
Operated with the support of its Platinum Sponsor, Mubadala Investment Company, lema? - which means ‘why?’ in Arabic – it is held over the course of six weeks, three times a year. 
 
Each session is delivered by fully trained science communicators and specially designed versions of the show are run to ensure inclusion of pupils of determination. The next tour will start in January 2019.