There’s A New Plan For Private Schools In Dubai And It’s Very Impressive
Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council His Highness Sheikh Hamdan has issued an Executive Council Resolution regarding private schools in Dubai. The new resolution aims to provide access to high quality education to the community while supporting good practice and greater transparency, while giving more power to the KHDA to continue to regulate schools in the Emirate.
This resolution will improve education quality in Dubai
According to the Government of Dubai website, the resolution aims to encourage investment in private schooling and it will continue to give authority to Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) to oversee the private schooling sector in Dubai (the KHDA has been overseeing the private school sector for over a decade).
The resolution will ensure all private schools ’employ qualified teachers; have a clear student safety and policy; take responsibility for student safety on school premises, buses and during school trips; and have a professional development plan for faculty and staff.’
Students with special needs will be supported by the KHDA
The KHDA will have the authority to ‘support students and facilitate integration of students with special education needs in private schools; set the requirements and standards that deliver quality education; receive and investigate complaints; issue initial permits and licenses for private schools; determine the adequacy of a proposed location and academic plan for new schools; specify the terms, conditions, policies and procedures required for curriculum accreditation, schools certificates’ equivalency and attestation; manage a database for private schools in Dubai; forecast and plan the emirates’ future educational needs; inspect schools and ensure compliance; and levy penalties in case of violations.’
The new mandate will give greater authority to the KHDA
Schools must obtain approval from the KHDA for the appointment of school operators; the school and campus engineering design and technical specifications; the appointment and replacement of school principals and faculty; amendments to education permits; student registration; extra-curricular activities; counselling, social, media and psychological services; fundraising activities and receiving donations; setting and adjusting tuition fees; offering tuition discounts; the academic calendar; amendments or adjustments to the curriculum; setting an ethics and professionalism charter; and changing school name, address, buildings or facilities.
