Nearly 8 in 10 Dubai Private Schools Receive Good or Higher Ratings, KHDA Report Reveals
In what continues to be an upward trend in the emirate's education system, Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has released the results of its latest inspection cycle, revealing that 81% of students in Dubai now attend private schools rated Good or higher. This is an improvement from last year's figure of 77%. The increase means that nearly 49,500 students have benefited from the improved quality of education.
A total of 209 schools with over 360,000 students were inspected this year, including 10 schools that were inspected for the first time. Of these schools, 23 were rated Outstanding, 48 were rated Very Good, 85 were rated Good, and 51 were rated Acceptable. Two schools were rated Weak, with no schools rated as Very Weak. Overall, 26 schools showed improvement in their ratings, while three saw a decline.
Aisha Abdulla Miran, Director General of KHDA, commented on the results, stating that the continuous improvement by schools demonstrates their commitment to providing high-quality educational opportunities for students. She also highlighted Dubai's strong performance in international assessments, ranking highly in literacy, maths, science, and reading. Miran emphasized that these results reaffirm Dubai's status as a world-class destination for education.
Miran expressed gratitude to the school community, including principals, teachers, and parents, for their efforts in enriching the learning experiences of students and contributing to Dubai's reputation as a top city for quality education. She also expressed a desire to increase the number of students receiving a good or better education and provide more distinguished educational opportunities for Emirati students.
The inspection results showed improvements across various quality indicators. This year, 90% of schools made improvements in one or more areas. The majority of these improvements (67%) were related to student outcomes, while 26% were related to provisions for learners and 7% were related to leadership.
In terms of specific subjects, schools in Dubai showed improvement in the progress of students in Arabic as a first language and Islamic education. The percentage of schools rated Good or higher in these areas increased compared to the previous year. Additionally, private schools in Dubai have made progress in reducing barriers to learning and providing equitable access to education. Inclusive education has improved, with 76% of schools now offering Good or higher-rated provisions for students with determination. Wellbeing provision also remains a focus, with 83% of schools offering wellbeing provision rated Good or higher.
Fatma Belrehif, CEO of Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB), praised the efforts of school leaders and teachers in improving the quality of education. She encouraged parents to read the inspection reports to gain insights into the quality of education in their children's schools. Belrehif expressed pride in the education community's commitment to enhancing education quality and global competitiveness and stated that the DSIB is dedicated to working with schools to align with Dubai's future goals.
Looking ahead, private schools in Dubai will not undergo full inspections during the 2024-25 academic year, except for new schools completing their third year of operation. This decision aims to support the teaching and learning process and allows schools to implement changes to support their development plans. The DSIB team will conduct quality assurance visits focusing on specific areas to monitor schools' progress on improvement plans.
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