UAE | Education

Parents give seal of approval to schools

A majority of parents have given Dubai schools their seal of approval in imparting quality education to their children.

  • By Anjana Sankar, Senior Reporter
  • Published: 22:52 May 12, 2009
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
  • Most parents thought the schools deal effectively with poor behaviour of pupils. This picture is for illustrative purposes only.

Dubai: A majority of parents have given Dubai schools their seal of approval in imparting quality education to their children.

When 22,000 parents randomly selected from 189 schools, both private and public, were asked by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) to rate their children's school, 91 per cent from public schools and 89 per cent from private schools said their children's school fulfils their promise to provide high quality education.

This is the biggest-ever survey of parents in Dubai to find out what they think about their children's schools. The questionnaire was sent to 30,000 parents before the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB) began its inspections.

The parents, of whom 22,000 responded, were selected randomly from each of the 189 schools that were later inspected, excluding the Indian, Pakistani and Iranian schools that will have their first inspection in the next academic year.

Parents were asked to rate a total of 16 statements.Although the parents gave positive ratings to most of the questions, one in five parents, in both the sectors, disagreed or strongly disagreed to the statement, 'The school is good at consulting me on decisions which affect my child.'

Dr Abdullah Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General at KHDA, said they want to listen to what people think and then follow up with plans for improvement.

The survey, the results of which were given to the inspectors before they visited the school, also showed that 94 per cent of pupils in public schools and 96 per cent in private schools, enjoy being at school.

It also showed 85 per cent and 87 per cent of parents from the public and private sector respectively thought the schools deal effectively with poor behaviour of pupils.

Responding to the findings of the survey, M.K., a father of two said most parents nurse grievances about the erratic fee increases by private schools and not as much about the quality of teaching.

"What is lacking is a balance between the quality and the price at which it comes," said M.K.

The results of the comprehensive school inspections covering all private and public schools excluding Indian, Pakistani and Iranian schools, will be published by KHDA on Wednesday.

Are you satisfied with your child's school performance? What could be done to improve education standards? Do you think traditional education is stifling your child's personality growth?

Your comments


It is good to know that parents are satisfied with their children's school. To maintain a standard of education is what is most important. A child needs to be well aware and have the ability to make well-informed decisions in the future.
R. K.
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: May 13, 2009, 18:08

Three of my kids are studying in the same school. Overall we can say the standard is good. But individual attention for the students are not satisfactory. Teachers are not that sincere to their professoin. But one thing they are not well paid also. Giving extra care to the other activities which is not done properly. They are not encouraging the actual talent which is hidden in the child. The fees are very high which we cannot afford with.
Reni
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 13, 2009, 17:52

My two children are studying in a reputed CBSE curriculum school. i am satisfied with the method the school follows. it all depends on the child's ability to grasp things. though a school plays an integral part in the overall development of the child. and i am content so far with the type of education this school in imparting to my child.
Ameenah Mariam
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: May 13, 2009, 17:09

Everyone's first teacher is his or her mother. The knowledge and talent of the child will be enhanced by the school through its teachers being the second parent. If the parents disciplinary measures to a child is harsh, then the school cannot do anything about the child's performances also. You can see the difference in pupils of the same age, due to a wrong upbringing by the parents.
Jhong
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 13, 2009, 15:49

hey all, i donno the enviroment of the schools inside, but i gonna tell all the teachers and parents to be in bond, let the teachers do their job and dont blame them, because they are the teachers, they also have some manners towards the pupils, the environment should be the same as like the convent education in India.
Suhail Ali
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 13, 2009, 14:09

My son is studying in a CBSE affiliated school. Five years earlier due to entry of new vice principal, it progressed well. But after he left in 2007, the Quality has reduced totally. Last year around 8 students failed though some were good while previously all even weakest student passed. School Management should put their best efforts to hold the competitive persons like previous vice principal that I feel they failed to do.
Johana Grace
Dibba,UAE
Posted: May 13, 2009, 13:55

Not at all. To improve education standards the school authority must implement good educational procedures and keep it always that ones.
John Daniel
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: May 13, 2009, 13:52

My child is studying in a school near my house in Dubai. I thought if the school is near to the home i could better cooperate with the teacher to develop my child. but my child's class teacher is not at all cooperating. I am very much worried what will happen to my child everyday I am teaching him at home. He is writing all dictation words correct at home but he is bringing 0 from the class. I discussed this with his teacher to just cooperate with me to let me know what's wrong with my child bringing 0 from class but she is not at all coordinating with my words. she is just telling something which is of no use. i do not know what to do. Can you please suggest me something regarding my problem?
Mohsina
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 13, 2009, 13:29

Some schools have no quality services like teachers; most of them are not professionals as required to teach in their respective field and paid very low salaries. I dont think the selection of the teaching staff as well as administrative staff are being according to best quality.
Mohammad Bashir Al Deen
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 13, 2009, 13:04

I'm satisfied with the my son's school education.
Harsha P. S.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 13, 2009, 12:50

While the school does impart formal education to our children, learning indeed starts at home. Parents can educate their children in small ways that will prepare them for formal schooling. A year before my daughter joined school I bought her trace and write books for both Alphabets and Numbers which has made it a lot more simple in helping her cope with school now. She has a slight edge over children who have no home schooling. A child below the age of 3 can be taught nursery rhymes and alphabets and number
Mitchelle
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 13, 2009, 12:35

The school that my boys are in, is doing good for them in terms of teaching and also extra curriculam activities, but at the same time would like the school to have better teachers who first of all speak and pronounce English well as pronunciation is most important specially at the beginning of school. Teachers who take up jobs of teaching should be more committed towards their job and not do it for the sake of money or passing their time. Otherwise there is nothing to complain about.
Loraine D'souza
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: May 13, 2009, 12:27

Well done on this initiative. However, I feel parents would mainly evaluate the schools based on academia. It's important to realise and make parents aware that schools should go beyond this criteria and include things like discipline, child's health, child's overall developements.
Avnish Gupta
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 13, 2009, 11:36

My children are studying in a school in Sharjah. The school is very dedicated and their pattern of education is satisfactory. I am happy with the performance of my children and feel they are progressing in the right direction. The school gives importance to various factors like sports, art, dance.
Naina Nair
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: May 13, 2009, 11:20

I have teaching experience for a school year in my country. I can say that any approach to the student whether its traditional or modern teaching. It much better for the professor itself to have a passion in this field. Not giving in what is written in the Lesson Plan give students a 100% education that comes from heart. Children today are hungry for this education. Being a professor is a noble job, don't think about low salary, think for the future of this students that will continue our goals and make their life worth it. We may get old as professors but isn't it worth it? if we see our students achieve their dreams and ambitions? For me it's worth it because I can see my students are now professionals in their chosen fields. If I'm giving a chance to teach here in Dubai, I'll still give my best as educator passionate in this field.
Mhadzie
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 13, 2009, 10:51

My son currently in KG2 in one of the renowned Indian schools with a CBSE curriculam. Seeing his last year's activities and improvement i was very happy that I have put my son in a good school. But this year, when I went through his books, I found that the standard has fallen drastically. All his books are assessed wrongly. I fail to understand this method of teaching. The child becomes overconfident and when I teach him the right way, he says 'see i have written this way in the book and teacher has given me correct. you are teaching me wrong." Even I have complained to the teacher about it but it has gone on deaf ears. Besides this, there are no extra curricular activities in the school to enhance the inner ability of a child. If this is the case, then maybe I may have to change his school. But the biggest question is which school?
Shahnaz Syed Shakeel
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 13, 2009, 10:14

No, because the system of education should be changed and given minimum curriculum for children who are studying in primary sections. Otherwise the children will withdraw from their studies. There is a saying that no play make jack a dull child.
Ceema
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: May 13, 2009, 09:57

My two children are studying in a public school in Dubai but as per expense I think the education is not good.
Allarakha Ali Bhai
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 13, 2009, 09:28

I am a coordinator in a private school in AbuDhabi, I have been in the field of education for 21 years and I believe that learning starts at home..the cooperation between the school and the parents is the best combination for a well rounded education.
Suha Ebrahim
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: May 13, 2009, 08:20

My son is studying in a new school and this is his first year in it. Comparing to the previous school he is doing much better. I wish the school management best of success in achieving the new set goal of e-learning.
Ashraf
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 13, 2009, 07:54

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