Varun Kumar, a Grade 10 student at The Millennium School — Al Qusais has found a way to focus on his cricketing goals while utilising the Rahhal online study programme.

Backed by the Dubai Government, the Rahhal initiative is part of 10x, a Dubai Future Foundation initiative designed to take Dubai 10 years into the future over the span of two years. Meaning ‘traveller’ in Arabic, Rahhal is a fully customisable platform that enables anyone, and any organisation, to become a learning provider, while harnessing the community’s knowledge and skills for each individual learner.

Towards the end of last year, Varun Kumar, his parents, and The Millennium School — Al Qusais (TMS). signed an agreement to confirm his inclusion in Rahhal, giving him the opportunity to blend academics with his professional interests. The initiative provides students with the opportunity to learn remotely anywhere in the world alongside the realisation of their vocational dreams.

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. This includes an online learning platform and school-based assessments, and Varun says he is excited to have the opportunity to follow his dreams by training extensively in cricket while keeping up with his academics.

“Out-of-school learning presents a real opportunity to disrupt education in today’s 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 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,” says Hind Al Mualla, Chief of Creativity, Happiness and Innovation at KHDA.

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

Ambika Gulati, Principal at TMS, says: “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.”

TMS is the first GEMS Education school to have signed up a Grade 10 student to the study programme.