SADEQ ALKHOORI (ABU DHABI)
The first day of school still feels different to Moza Mohamed Al Hefeiti.
After more than two decades in education, the Emirati Islamic Studies teacher says every new academic year brings “a feeling unlike any other”, shaped by joy, passion and the belief that teaching can leave a lasting mark on students.
“Every new academic year is a new opportunity to make a beautiful difference in the lives of students,” Al Hefeiti told Aletihad.
For Moza Al Hefeiti, Islamic Studies teacher at Zayed Educational Complex and Abu Dhabi Awards recipient, the classroom has moved far beyond the traditional model she knew at the beginning of her career.
“We have moved from traditional education to a more innovative and interactive environment that uses technology and artificial intelligence to support student learning,” she said.
Students, she added, are now more engaged and independent. They no longer only receive information. They take part in building their own learning through research, experimentation, and innovation.
That shift has also changed the role of the teacher.
“The teacher’s role has developed from transferring knowledge to becoming an inspirer and guide who discovers students’ abilities,” she said.
Values in a digital world
As an Islamic Studies teacher, Al Hefeiti said faith, values and national identity must be connected to students’ daily lives, including the digital world they are growing up in.
“Faith, values and national identity are not taught only by instruction. They are lived and practised,” she said.
In her lessons, she links values such as giving and solidarity to the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and to the UAE’s humanitarian approach.
“My goal is for every student to carry a confident identity, a firm moral compass and an Emirati spirit capable of shaping the future,” she said.
One of Al Hefeiti’s best-known initiatives is an interactive digital prayer rug designed to help children learn the steps and sequence of prayer in a practical and engaging way.
She said the idea came from wanting to make prayer education closer to students’ world.
“The interactive digital prayer rug was a bridge between values and modern technology,” she said.
The experience taught her that technology is most effective when it turns knowledge into something students can experience, remember and connect with emotionally.
Kais Zribi, General Manager for the Middle East and Africa at Coursera, said the start of a new academic year is also a reminder that education must connect classroom learning to the world beyond school.
For Al Hefeiti, that balance begins inside the classroom.
“I make sure technology remains a tool, not an end,” she said. “Technology opens the doors of knowledge, but the teacher, through closeness, care and inspiration, creates the real impact in students’ lives.”
Al Hefeiti was recognised by the Abu Dhabi Awards for her contribution to education and was selected among the Top 50 finalists for the GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize.
She said the Abu Dhabi Award turned years of service, initiatives and student smiles into recognised impact, while giving her a renewed sense of responsibility.
“The award was an honour for the journey,” she said.