Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 3 February 2019: The Millennium School is the first GEMS Education school to have signed up a grade 10 student onto KHDAs ground-breaking Rahhal study programme. Meaning traveler in Arabic, the message of Rahhal is simple - the world is a classroom, and all learning counts.

Towards the end of last year, Varun Kumar, his parents, and The Millennium School signed the agreement to confirm his inclusion and took the opportunity for him to merge academics with his professional interests. The aforementioned project provides students with the opportunity to learn remotely, or anywhere in the world alongside the realization of their vocational dreams.

Hind Al Mualla, Chief of Creativity, Happiness, and Innovation at KHDA said, Out-of-school learning presents a real opportunity to disrupt education in todays schools and the experiences of Rahhal learners will create a new alternative for students in the future. By committing to be a part of Rahhal, we are together creating the future of education and enabling learners to go beyond their classroom. We are excited to work with The Millennium School and welcome Varun to the Rahhal programme.

KHDA is lending its full support in the provision of a certificate of migration for the Rahhal days into school attendance on this project, which will allow Varun to train in his passion and interest without compromising on his academics.

Ambika Gulati, the Principal, The Millennium School, said: We feel privileged that we have partnered with the Dubai Government to provide flexible learning pathways to our students offered under the Rahhal Project. Rahhal is an innovative programme that meets the needs of individual students. It augurs the future of school education.

Varun is an aspiring cricketer and was selected by the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) board to train extensively under its guidance. The school has drawn up a full plan of study to support his learning needs which includes an online learning platform and school-based assessments.

Varun Kumar, grade 10 student at GEMS The Millennium School, said: I am so excited that this programme means that I can follow my dreams and train extensively in cricket alongside my academic work.

Rahhal is the first pilot project to be launched under Dubai 10X, a Dubai Future Foundation initiative that aims to place Dubai government entities 10 years ahead of the rest of the world in key sectors, by implementing within two years what other cities around the world will be implementing 10 years later.

By providing a supportive regulatory environment, Rahhal will enhance learning opportunities for everyone in society.