ADEK’s 'Lema?' Programme Sees Student Participation Increase 36%

ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 24th Mar, 2019) A record number of 32,938 pupils across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi took part in a series of interactive workshops this winter as an introduction to the fun side of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, known as STEM subjects.

Between 20th January and 7th March over 66 schools across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra regions took part in the latest â€کLema?’ tour, a programme run by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, ADEK.

According to a press statement released by ADEK, student participation numbers increased by 36 percent, compared to the first trimester in 2018, and nearing 50 percent of the total participation figures in the previous academic year.

This year’s workshop series featured the latest addition to the programme, â€کCrazy Chemistry’. The sessions also included experiments on human biology, space and aviation, ICT and robotics, to nurture the next generation of the Emirate’s scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs.

'Lema?' 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.

Commenting on the latest participation figures, Fatima Al Zaabi, Project Manager at ADEK, said, "STEM subjects are traditionally the subjects that children take on without much enthusiasm.

In reality, they can be just as fun and exciting to learn as art and theatre.

"It is imperative that lessons in science, technology, math and engineering be encouraging to students, so they pursue their scientific interests into their college years. Through the Lema? programme, we are supporting schools in Abu Dhabi to take the right steps to make STEM learning more enjoyable," she added.

Al Zaabi noted, "The fact that we are setting a record number year after year shows that this approach is working and that the Lema? programme continues to go from strength to strength."

A survey of teachers last year found that 100 percent of teachers felt that the Lema? workshops increased enthusiasm for learning STEM subjects amongst students, with 86 percent stating they were very satisfied and 14 percent were satisfied.

The â€کLema?’ programme has been running since 2012, visiting students from Grades 3 to 7 in public and private schools.

'Lema?' - which means â€کwhy?’ in Arabic – 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.