Edarabia had the opportunity to interview Scott Carnochan, Executive Principal of Al Yasat Private School, to discuss how schools can prepare students for a rapidly evolving world shaped by artificial intelligence, digital responsibility, and global change. In this conversation, he shares insights on teaching AI as a core competency, promoting critical thinking and adaptability, supporting student wellbeing, and nurturing strong character while celebrating UAE culture, community values, and meaningful partnerships between schools and families.
Al Yasat has been teaching students about AI before the ‘formal subject’, was introduced. For me, the real shift has been moving from simply using technology to helping students truly understand it, how to use it and the potential challenges associated with it. AI is going to shape almost every industry our students enter, so it’s important that they don’t see it as a mysterious tool or a bolt-on to what they learn, but something they can question, understand and use responsibly.
At Al Yasat we start simply. With younger students it’s about curiosity – patterns, logic, problem solving, programming. As they get older, we start unpacking what AI actually means: how algorithms work, how data shapes outcomes and, importantly, the ethical questions around it.
What I want our students to leave with is confidence. Not just confidence to use AI, but confidence to challenge it and think critically about it.
Our community has adapted without dramatic disruption. We already had a clear and consistent approach to mobile devices, so the transition has been smooth and well understood by both students and parents.
We have always placed a strong emphasis on positive digital citizenship and balanced technology habits. Our view is that helping students understand responsible use, thoughtful decision-making, and the consequences of digital behavior equips them with important life skills they will need beyond school.
This focus supports broader wellbeing goals while helping students remain engaged, build stronger relationships, and maintain focus in a phone-free learning environment.
Balance is the key word.
For younger students we focus on the thinking skills that underpin everything – curiosity, creativity, asking good questions. Those foundations matter far more than exposure to specific tools and are successfully applied when appropriate.
As students get older, we introduce AI in a structured way and always alongside conversations about ethics, bias and responsible use.
The last thing we want is students who use technology without thinking about its implications, nor see it as a bolt-on. It has to be integrated. The real skill for the future will be thinking critically about technology, not just using it.
One of the things I value most about living and working in the UAE is the opportunity to learn about the culture and heritage of this country.
At Al Yasat we try to make these subjects come alive through experiences, projects and community events rather than simply treating them as standalone lessons. This helps students clearly see the relevance and connection between what they learn in the classroom and the world around them.
Our Arabic department, for example, leads a number of creative initiatives that celebrate language and culture. One highlight is our Annual Arabic Spelling Bee, which encourages students to deepen their Arabic vocabulary and confidence in a fun and engaging way. The 2nd Annual Arabic Spelling Bee Competition was an extraordinary event, welcoming participation from more than 150 schools across the UAE, demonstrating both the excitement around the initiative and the importance of promoting Arabic language learning.
We also take pride in supporting our student authors, whose published work reflects creativity while strengthening language development and cultural understanding.
For our Emirati students, these experiences strengthen their sense of identity and pride. For our non Emirati students, they deepen their understanding of the country they call home.
Ultimately, it is about building genuine respect and appreciation for the culture, language and values of the UAE within our school community while demonstrating their importance and relevance in modern society.
If I had to choose three, they would be adaptability, critical thinking and character.
The world our students are entering will change rapidly, so they need the ability to adapt and keep learning.
They need to think critically in a world full of information and misinformation.
And above all, they need character – integrity, empathy and resilience. Those qualities will always matter and should be at the forefront of how we help shape our students for the betterment of their world.
At Al Yasat we encourage students to remain curious and open minded. Many of the careers our students will eventually pursue do not even exist yet, so focusing too narrowly too early can actually be limiting.
Our philosophy is to help students explore their strengths and interests while building the skills that allow them to adapt and grow throughout their lives. Through a diverse selection of electives and supplemental courses, students have the opportunity to experience different fields firsthand. In many cases they discover talents and passions they may not have realized they had.
These experiences help us develop well rounded individuals who are confident exploring new ideas and challenges.
In addition, our annual College and Career Fair, together with the guidance of our experienced University Counselor, ensures students gain exposure to the many pathways available to them and receive expert support as they begin planning their future.
The results of this approach speak for themselves. Our graduates consistently achieve a 100 percent university acceptance rate, and in the Class of 2025 more than 90 percent of graduates were awarded full scholarships, including offers from leading international universities.
Ultimately, education should prepare students not only for employment, but for a rapidly changing world. Our goal is to develop adaptable, thoughtful young people who are ready to contribute positively to society and play a meaningful role in the future.
The starting point is really simple: knowing your students well.
At Al Yasat we work hard to ensure that teachers genuinely understand each students’ strengths, interests and challenges. In fact, we go beyond that with our aspiration to know our families.
That allows us to offer opportunities across academics, sport, leadership, service and the arts so students can discover what motivates them.
Every child is different and each will unwrap their individual talents at different point. Our role is to help them find where they thrive and to celebrate their efforts and talents.
Resilience doesn’t come from being told to be resilient, it comes from experience.
Students need opportunities to face challenges, to make mistakes and to learn how to respond to them. At Al Yasat, we are quite clear that mistakes are an essential part of our learning journey. Without this, students will not grow and flourish as the must push beyond their comfort zones.
Just as important is the culture around it. When effort and perseverance are valued and mistakes are made without fear, students start to see challenges not as setbacks but as opportunities to learn and grow in self-belief and confidence.
Strong relationships are the foundation of any great school.
Our pastoral teams, Grade Level Leaders and counsellors know students well and keep a close eye on both academic pressure and emotional wellbeing.
Regular conversations with students and families allow us to pick up early signs when someone might be struggling. We also encourage our students to ‘speak up’, for themselves but also for anyone in our community whom they may feel is struggling. We look after each other at Al Yasat – a genuine strength of our school!
We want our students to aim high, but it’s equally important that they feel supported and balanced along the way.
Our support teams work closely with teachers to adapt learning so that every student can succeed in a way that reflects their strengths.
Students of Determination bring incredible perspectives and talents to our community. Our job is to ensure those strengths are recognized and nurtured, for every child in our care.
We talk a lot about the idea that your online presence is part of your personal story.
Students need to understand that what they share online can follow them into university and beyond.
So alongside discussions around safety and cyberbullying, we encourage them to think about how they can use digital platforms to share ideas, achievements and positive contributions.
Technology should be something that reflects who you are and what you stand for, as well as understanding how it can positively support you and equally have a negative impact on you. Again, early education in this area is key, providing students with the knowledge to then make informed choices.
Parents are absolutely central to what we do and our parent body is fantastically supportive.
Initiatives like our “Community Ramadan” remind us that education doesn’t happen only within the school gates. It is the ‘Golden Triangle’ of home – school – child which has such an enormous impact on the school journey of children, and so a community must be in tune with regards to values, expectations and standards. Where these aren’t aligned is where schools can often experience challenges.
When families engage with the life of the school, students see that learning, values and community are connected. That partnership between home and school makes a huge difference.
One thing I believe strongly is that experienced teachers bring wisdom and perspective that no technology can replace.
Our role as leaders is to give them the time, training and support to explore new tools without feeling that everything must change overnight.
It is vital to provide opportunities for all colleagues to have a voice when implementing a change project – it is far easier to bring people with you on the journey and to create an environment of ‘doing it with’ colleagues, rather than ‘doing it to’ them! This may take more time but will ultimately be more effective.
When teachers feel supported, they’re incredibly innovative and often more able than they may initially have thought!
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in education, it’s that schools are ultimately about people. Education is a human industry.
Technology will change. The world will evolve. But if young people leave school with curiosity, kindness and the confidence to make a difference, they will always find their way.
At Al Yasat, that’s what we’re striving for every day.
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