Number of students receiving outstanding education has tripled in the past year, KHDA says
Dubai The number of students getting outstanding education has tripled over the past year, even though a majority of pupils continue to get only acceptable or unsatisfactory education in Dubai's private schools, according to an annual school inspections report released by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).
The report indicates an overall improvement in the education system, with up to 17 schools showing improved ratings while nine schools declined, but it also acknowledges that the progress is slow.
Five schools progressed from good to outstanding this year, joining the six that have continued to be outstanding. The number of students attending these schools has tripled from 6,177 last year to 18,546 this year, which is six per cent of the total number of students studying in private schools.
"The education system as a whole has shown substantial improvement both in terms of quality as well as quantity over the last four years and the inspection results show it clearly. There is a basic change in the way schools manage themselves now, while students and parents also are working towards the progress," said Dr Abdullah Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of KHDA.
Slow progress
At 49, the number of schools ranked good has remained the same as last year, the number of schools ranked unsatisfactory has declined from 16 last year to 13, which indicates slow progress.
"There is definitely improvement in all seven key areas that we have been looking at, but in some areas the progress has been slow. The majority of the schools are applying the suggestions made by the inspectors and I can assure you that even those schools that have been consistently ranked unsatisfactory have improved," said Jameela Al Muhairi, Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB) chief.
Jameela said previously most private schools treated Arabic and Islamic studies as extra and over the last four years more and more schools have made these subjects part of their curriculum, which she said was reflected in their ratings.
'UK curriculum schools at the top'
UK curriculum schools continued to be the top category, with eight schools ranked outstanding, including the Kings' Dubai School (KDS), which is the only institution to secure an outstanding ranking four times in a row.
Crediting the school's teachers and management for its continuous success, the CEO and principal of KDS, Kevin Stedman, said: "A school is only as good as its people. We are delighted by our performance and we continue to strive for greater success so we never take any ratings for granted."
However, he acknowledged that improvement in the school's Arabic and Islamic teaching had added to its performance. Joining Stedman in identifying Arabic and Islamic teaching as key areas of improvement that has led to its superior rating is Robin Appleby, Superintendent of Dubai American Academy (DAA).
‘Very good experience'
"The format of the inspection system is pretty much British-based and it is difficult for other curriculum schools to fit in, but in the last four years we applied the suggestions made by the inspectors and it has worked out well. It has been a very good experience and one of the areas we have improved tremendously in is the Arabic language teaching and that has been acknowledged by the report," said Appleby.
DAA became the first and only US curriculum school to be classified as outstanding.
The other schools that are ranked outstanding this year are GEMS Wellington International School, which has secured outstanding ranking for three years in a row, while Jumeirah College, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Dubai College and GEMS Jumeirah Primary School have been ranked outstanding for the second year running. Joining the list among UK curriculum schools are Jumeirah English Speaking School — Arabian Ranches and Jebel Ali Primary School.
Two Indian schools — The Indian High School and Modern High School — were also ranked outstanding this year.
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