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It is a given fact that education plays a critical role in advancing societies. Without the provision of adequate education, the progress of any nation would be hampered. The UAE is no exception in realising the importance of education in its developmental progress.
Since its establishment, the government has made substantial allocations to provide free education for all Emiratis. It is therefore disappointing to learn that thousands of would-be students will not be able to obtain a placement in any of the government-funded universities or higher education institutions. According to Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the shortage of funds has "forced [it] to turn down admissions of 5,000 students this year and the number will be even bigger next year, when the Higher Colleges of Technology will be forced to reduce the number of seats from 16,000 to 14,000".
The inability to accommodate these numbers is a serious shortfall, and it will take innovative and cooperative measures to resolve them. Finding alternatives to government funding and addressing the quality of education are steps in the right direction. But only a holistic approach will be capable of bringing about practical answers and immediate solutions.
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