Dubai Dubai Executive Council in association with Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) Dubai and the Ministry of Education is working on revamping the emirate's education strategy.
A steering committee has been formed comprising members from various organisations, which is also working out a road map to implement the strategy.
The idea is to align the educational sector with the emirate's and the country's long term economic and social developmental policies, including the Dubai Strategic Plan, 2015, of which education is a key pillar in Dubai's vision of building a sustainable and knowledge-based economy.
The project focuses on Dubai's K-12 education system and brings on board all parties concerned. It is being coordinated by the General Secretariat of the Executive Council and will be overseen by the steering committee.
The steering committee includes all related key local government entities represented at the highest level as the Executive Council Social Development Committee Chairperson, Major General Mohammad Al Merri; the Dubai Executive Council Secretary General, Abdullah Al Shaibani; Knowledge and Human Development Authority Director General, Dr Abdullah Karam and Dubai Education Zone Director General, Dr Ahmad Eid Al Mansouri.
The committee is in regular contact with the UAE Minister of Education, Humaid Mohammad Obaid Al Qutami, who supports the project and is actively involved in providing inputs to align federal and emirate level education policies and mandates of related authorities.
The approach and methodology to revamp the Education Strategy of Dubai is designed by a team of in-house and outsourced experts. The methodology takes into account the multi-stakeholder, multi-dimensional and, inter-related social, cultural and economic nature and dynamics of the education sector of Dubai as whole.
The methodology also seeks participation of all parties concerned, including parents, students, teachers, principals, as well as, investors, urban planning, finance and education authorities.
One common goal
As part of the project, several surveys are being conducted to receive the feedback and insights from various stakeholders.
Al Qutami said it was necessary to develop a supporting plan from the Federal Education developmental strategy, to help enhance the educational services in Dubai and contribute to higher educational attainment.
"What distinguishes the education process in the UAE is the fact that it works under a federal umbrella, through a constructive cooperation of the Ministry and Educational Councils. This creates an exceptional method in which all entities work together to attain one common goal, which is to prepare and equip young Emiratis with the right knowledge to conserve UAE's achievements while building onto them in the required pace of this constantly changing world," said Al Qutami.
Solid strengths
Dr Abdullah Karam, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority Director General and project steering committee member, stated that a lot has been accomplished so far and a clear road map is needed in order to build on the current assets.
Dr Karam said: "As KHDA, we have been at the forefront of private education in Dubai. We introduced many initiatives at school and system level to get the best out of the private education, and we increased the quality of outputs and outcomes.
"However, private education is very dynamic and complex, hence the strategy has to evolve accordingly. We are glad to have all parties on board for the revamp of Dubai Education strategy. This project will tackle the missing or outdated components of the existing strategy and factor in its solid strengths."
