UAE high school students to receive their grades via text message

UAE Minister of Education

High school students studying in the UAE will receive their final grades via text message on their phones, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Education confirmed.

The Minister of Education made the announcement stating that it is a step forward towards implementing the mobile government initiative of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The mobile initiative aims to create a ‘mobile government’ that delivers its services via mobile phones and other advanced technological tools in order to provide services every day, all day and wherever the person is.

With the increasing demand on smartphones the initiative aims to take advantage of the fact that there are more than 14 million mobile phones in use across the UAE and so switching to mobile technology is the logical move, Shaikh Mohammad had said earlier.

Gulf News spoke to some parents and students to learn about their views regarding receiving their grades on the phone.

“I think that it is a great idea because it is more convenient for us parents than having to go all the way to the school. I hope that the ministry will consider providing this service to all grades, not just high school students, because my children are in grade three and five and I would love if that service would be provided for us,” said mother-of-three Mai Jameel, 32.

University student Ehab Qazooh, 19, said that he is glad that the service is being provided after he graduated. “Tough luck for high school students because they will not be able to hide their failing grades from there parents any more since they will be sent to them.” Qazooh said jokingly. “I guess it is a good service for parents because it makes their lives easier and their child won’t be able to hide their grades from them any more,” he added.