Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
No two students learn the same way, and UAE schools are increasingly designing their classrooms around that fact. Personalised learning, smarter technology and closer family partnerships all help educators meet each child’s needs, experts said.
The goal, they say, is to make every student feel valued, supported, and empowered to succeed.
For Wayne Howsen, Principal of The Aquila School, inclusion begins by creating a culture where children feel safe, happy and confident enough to be themselves. It’s about celebrating what students can already do.
“Inclusive education is about ensuring every child feels they belong and achieves success, whatever their starting point,” Howsen told Aletihad.
Gillian Hammond, Principal of Aspen Heights British School, agrees inclusion isn’t about fitting students into one system.
“It is about creating a system where every student can flourish,” she said, adding that every learner should feel known, supported and challenged.
Hammond also linked inclusion to classroom culture, arguing that respect, kindness and a sense of belonging are what make it work. Learning alongside people from different cultures and perspectives, she said, helps students become more compassionate leaders, confident collaborators and responsible global citizens.
Technology as a Tool, Not a Replacement
The two principals see personalisation as central to nurturing curious, confident learners, and technology has made it more achievable than ever.
Hammond pointed to AI-assisted tools and adaptive learning platforms as drivers of more effective, barrier-free education. “Technology gives us powerful new ways to personalise education, but the real difference is made by teachers who know every child.”
Howsen struck a similar chord, stressing that technology should support teachers and specialist staff rather than replace the relationships at the heart of successful inclusion.
“Technology is most powerful when it enhances, rather than replaces, meaningful human connection,” he said.
Beyond the Campus
The mission of making education inclusive doesn’t stop at the school gates. For Hammond, it is “most successful” when schools and families work as genuine partners. Consistent support improves students’ confidence, wellbeing and academic achievement, she said.
Howsen pointed to teacher training and early intervention as equally critical: “The earlier we identify needs and work together, the better the outcomes for children.”
Beyond making learning more effective, Howsen said inclusive classrooms prepare students for the future by instilling empathy, collaboration and respect: “These qualities are just as important as academic success.”
Hammond sees inclusion as an investment in society and the economy. “Inclusion is not simply an educational priority; it is an investment in a stronger economy, a more innovative workforce and a society where everyone has the opportunity to contribute.”
Unlocking the potential of every learner, she added, will help build a more skilled, diverse and future-ready workforce while supporting the UAE’s long-term vision.
