Abu Dhabi Private Schools to Publish Ratings: What Parents Should Know

In a significant move to promote educational excellence in Abu Dhabi, the Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has unveiled a new strategy to enhance the visibility of school performance. Every private school in the emirate will now display School Performance Plaques at their entrances.

These plaques are designed to provide a straightforward and evident snapshot of a school's academic quality and commitment to fostering national identity, based on its most recent Irtiqa'a inspection rating and National Identity Mark. This initiative aims to empower parents and the community by offering them direct insights into the learning environments of various educational institutions.

Sulaiman Al Ameri, Acting Private Education and Charter Schools Sector Executive Director at ADEK, emphasized the significance of the plaques by stating, "These plaques represent more than just a rating — they reflect a school's commitment to academic excellence and to nurturing a strong sense of national identity in our students. By making performance outcomes visible, we're encouraging continuous improvement and giving parents a transparent, at-a-glance understanding of school quality."

The plaques feature critical assessments of school quality, including the Irtiqa'a Rating, which evaluates schools on several key aspects such as student achievement, personal and social development, and teaching effectiveness. Additionally, the National Identity Mark assesses a school's efforts in integrating national culture, values, and citizenship into its curriculum.

These indicators are crucial for parents and the community to understand the educational and cultural ethos of schools. Furthermore, ADEK plans to incorporate the Wellbeing Mark into the plaques in the future, which will highlight schools' contributions to the social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of students and teachers.

This initiative is a part of ADEK's comprehensive strategy to develop a globally competitive education ecosystem in Abu Dhabi. By making school performance data easily accessible, ADEK aims to support families in making informed decisions about their children's education. Parents are encouraged to observe these plaques when visiting schools and to learn more about the Irtiqa'a and National Identity frameworks through the ADEK website or its dedicated parent app, Rayah.

ADEK's introduction of School Performance Plaques marks a pivotal step towards transparency and community involvement in the educational sector of Abu Dhabi. By providing clear and accessible information about school performance, this initiative empowers parents to make better-informed decisions and encourages schools to continuously strive for excellence.