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Expo honours Sheikh Mohammed’s teacher

Expo 2020 Dubai has announced that as part of its legacy plans, the Innovation Gallery within Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion will be renamed to honour Muhammed Al Saket Al Falasi, the man who taught Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, during the 1950s…reports Asian Lite News

With UNESCO celebrating the work of educators across the globe, as it has every year since 1994 with World Teachers’ Day on 5 October, Expo 2020 Dubai is participating with its own tributes for 2021, honouring those working in the region and the world, with a nod to the contributions of one teacher in particular.

The role of educators is particularly significant at this current time, as it is teachers shaping the minds of future generations, who must continue to view environmental issues and sustainability as a priority.

For World Teachers’ Day this year, Expo 2020 Dubai has announced that as part of its legacy plans, the Innovation Gallery within Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion will be renamed to honour Muhammed Al Saket Al Falasi, the man who taught Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, during the 1950s, and who undoubtedly was an influence on the way Dubai has developed.

A commemorative plaque will be unveiled in the coming weeks, honouring the former educator and the important work of teachers around the world, with a small ceremony, and in keeping with the education theme, the Innovation Gallery will feature a children’s innovations exhibit, providing a playful, exploratory experience, seeking to broaden minds and break the cycle of consumerism. Terra itself will be transformed into a Science Museum, promoting sustainable choices for all ages following the closing of Expo on 31 March 2022.

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Education has been at the forefront of Expo 2020 Dubai, with the Expo School Programme organising school visits, with easy access for children and teachers. On World Teachers’ Day, these visits will be promoted on social media, with students holding boards with writing in English and Arabic, pledging thanks to their teachers.

Alya Al Ali, Vice President – Expo School Programme, said: “Expo 2020 Dubai is a beacon for connecting minds and creating the future, and the celebration of World Teachers’ Day is our way of thanking educators, past and present, from all corners of the globe, for the tremendous work they do in shaping our future.

“We seek to augment the pioneering involvement of inspiring professors such as Mohammed Al Saket, as well as those who came after him, by opening up a wealth of learning opportunities and engaging schools in the journey to Expo 2020 through initiatives aimed at inspiring the next generation to explore, create and learn in a fun and immersive environment.”

Mohammed Al Saket Al Falasi, who is now 86 years old, taught at Al Ahmadiya School, the first semi-formal school in Dubai. Several years ago, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid spoke of his appreciation for his former teacher, who he described as a virtuous person, and his deep respect for others involved in his education.

Ali Muhammad Al Saket Al Falasi, the son of the pioneering teacher, said that seeing his father honoured by Expo in this way filled him with pride. He added: “Honouring teachers feels natural in the UAE, as it has made such great leaps in the education sector in recent decades. This time the honour is particularly special, as it comes from Expo 2020 Dubai –an event we are all so proud to be hosting, and the first of its kind in the region.

“My father has shared many stories about his time teaching H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, that he was an excellent pupil, and that he saw early on the distinctive qualities that would make him a respected leader, and of great importance in the future.”

The Expo School Programme is dedicated to engaging with schools and students of the UAE in the journey to Expo 2020. On Monday, Jameela Al Muhairi, UAE Minister of State for Public Education, welcomed the first group of students to take part in the Expo School Journeys at Expo 2020 Dubai.

A principal’s fancy ‘avatar’ to create vax buzz

For this, Principal Patki slips into a new fancy attire daily in different areas, goes around singing, dancing, reciting folk-tales, hymns, poems and attempts to remove misconceptions about the Covid-19 pandemic and the life-saver vaccination jabs that have reached the village of 1,750…reports Asian Lite News.

Scores of children in the small village of Biladi in Nandurbar district stare with disbelief at an unusual sight unfolding daily in their neighbourhood.

Around 9 am onwards, the Biladi Zilla Parishad Primary School Principal Sachin Patki sheds his tough demeanour and ‘school-headmaster’ attitude to walk up and mingle freely with the villagers, comprising mostly farmers or daily labourers, to create awareness about the Covid-19 vaccination.

For this, Principal Patki slips into a new fancy attire daily in different areas, goes around singing, dancing, reciting folk-tales, hymns, poems and attempts to remove misconceptions about the Covid-19 pandemic and the life-saver vaccination jabs that have reached the village of 1,750.

“I don our schoolteachers’ uniform, or self-stitched costumes of Lord Shiva with a damru and a club, a Policeman, a Doctor, Lord Vasudeo (Sage Naradmuni, with a pair of ‘khartals’), etc., to lure the people and make them feel more comfortable among familiar Hindu gods and the frontline workers,” smiles Patki.

The 42-year academician devotes around 30-45 mintues in each area, speaks about the Covid protocols like physical distancing, sporting face-masks, washing hands often, hygiene, and the need to get inoculated, etc. to the wide-eyed parents and villagefolk who gather, of course, at a safe range.

“I am accompanied by my two teachers – Shantaram Wadile and Smita Budhe’ While I convey the messages in an entertaining style, they distribute around 40-50 masks, soaps or handwashes to the crowds to drive home the importance of following Covid-appropriate behavior,” Patiki said.

The idea dawned on Patki a couple of weeks ago after hearing how medical or social workers and aanganwadi staff were hounded out by the villagers when they went to conduct Covid-19 tests or register them for vaccination.

“Most villagers slammed doors shut, those in the fields would scoot from the volunteers, others would surround and abuse them, at times there were minor fisticuffs after which the perplexed workers retreated,” he recalled.

The ZP school, now a temporary quarantine-cum-innoculation centre, is manned by two other teachers – Sarla Patil and Sachin Bagal — who killed hours of boredom on the designated ‘Vaccination Thursdays’ with barely a handful of villagers turning up for the jab.

Last month, only 35 sceptics turned up for the dose, but after Patki’s public awareness drive, it shot up to 100 the next week and last Thursday notched a record 140 people queing up for their jabs.

“My small campaign has apparently clicked… The simple folks have lot of misconceptions… They apprehend illnesses, some short-term or permanent handicap or even death…! I gently try to erase all their doubts and convince them to go for the life-saver jab…” said Patki, sounding relieved.

In Biladi, he touches around 25 families daily in his two-hour long road-shows and buoyed by the response, took it even to the adjoining Bankheda village (1,500 pop.) too.

On an average, Patki — who also works as a part-time Hindu priest and revered as ‘Brahmin Sir’ – spends around Rs 5,000 each month from his pocket toward the ‘extra-curricular social activities’ for his 110-school kids who hail from economically weaker sections… But he desires to do even more for them.

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