Atika bint Zaid School Wins Big: A Blueprint for Building a Championship Reading Culture
The Atika bint Zaid School in Khorfakkan has cemented its status as a leader in Arabic literacy by winning the coveted “Distinguished School” title at the ninth Arab Reading Challenge. The prestigious award, presented by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, comes with a prize of one million dirhams and celebrates the school’s unparalleled success in creating a deep-rooted and sustainable reading culture.
Moving beyond short-term campaigns, the school implemented a long-term strategy to embed reading into the daily rhythm of student life. This winning formula was built on a solid foundation of five core pillars and 73 sub-initiatives, creating an inclusive ecosystem that engaged the entire community—from teachers and parents to senior citizens and people of determination.
The Winning Strategy: A Community-Wide Effort
Principal Hind Ahmed Al Shehhi credits the success to a meticulously organized, community-driven approach. “We formed a dedicated ‘Reading Leadership Team’ that spanned the entire school community and beyond,” she stated. “This diverse team was crucial for supporting and monitoring the implementation of our plan.”
The school’s methodology seamlessly integrated reading into the academic framework through weekly and monthly plans that connected literature to classroom lessons, homework, and extracurricular activities. To fuel student motivation, they launched several innovative programs:
Reading Ambassador & Reader’s Passport: Systems to track and reward consistent reading.
Daily Reading Hour: A dedicated, non-negotiable time for quiet reading.
Hallway Library Corners: Making books highly accessible and visible.
Classroom Challenges & Showcases: Publicly celebrating reading achievements and creating a culture of recognition.
Leveraging technology, the school used OneDrive to digitally monitor students’ reading passports, while weekly ceremonies celebrated new “reading stars,” keeping morale and engagement high.
Empowering Teachers and Engaging Families
Understanding that teachers are the engine of this initiative, the school invested heavily in professional development. Educators participated in specialized workshops to hone their skills in guiding students toward critical reading and summarization, fostering thoughtful readers rather than rote learners.
The school also ensured the reading habit extended beyond its walls through the “My Family Reads” initiative. This program actively involved parents, encouraging and tracking reading at home to create a true school-family partnership in literacy.
A Legacy of Innovation in Education
This is not the school’s first triumph on this national stage. During the fifth edition of the challenge at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Atika bint Zaid School secured first place nationally by pioneering the conversion of reading passports into a fully electronic format—an innovation that was later adopted by the UAE Ministry of Education for schools nationwide.
Principal Al Shehhi emphasized that the award is a validation of their core mission, not the goal itself. “As a school, our primary goal was not just winning, but rather creating a generation of readers and thinkers who possess the tools for the future. The victory came as a natural result of a culture we have cultivated with faith and hard work over the years.”
The emotional award ceremony was a landmark moment for the school community. “It was a moment of pride that cannot be forgotten,” Al Shehhi recalled. “We all felt that we did not just win a title, but we won a value that will remain in the minds of our children for life.”
Also Read: Next-Gen Travel Experience: Abu Dhabi Airports Launch Facial Recognition Boarding
Measurable Impact and a Sustainable Model
The results of this comprehensive strategy are clear and measurable. Students demonstrate greater confidence in public speaking, show significantly improved writing and linguistic skills, and exhibit enhanced academic performance across all subjects. More importantly, they are developing into informed, critical thinkers.
To ensure lasting impact, the school’s reading plan is a continuous cycle, structured into three phases: before, during, and after the Arab Reading Challenge, guaranteeing that the momentum continues long after the awards are presented.
A Message from the Principal
Principal Al Shehhi offers this powerful advice:
To Parents: “Reading at home is the most powerful gift you give your children. Make books a part of family life like food, sleep, and play.”
To Teachers: “Your words create passion or extinguish it. Plant a love of knowledge before the curriculum, and you will find an excellent student driven by passion, not pressure.”
To School Leaders: “Create environments that ignite curiosity. Real education is not based on rote learning, but on reading that expands the mind and builds the person.”
This latest accolade adds to the school’s growing list of achievements, including the Khalifa Educational Award for the 2025 academic year and first place in the ‘Most Beautiful School Environment’ category.
The Arab Reading Challenge, the world’s largest Arabic literacy initiative founded by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, saw participation from over 32 million students across 50 countries in its ninth edition. Through its proven and sustainable model, Atika bint Zaid School stands as a shining example for schools across the UAE and the Arab world, demonstrating how a strategic commitment to reading can yield profound educational dividends.
