Dubai: The new academic year (2017-18) for Indian schools started this week, with more than 30 Indian schools in Dubai alone reopening doors after the spring break.
A total of 36 Indian, Pakistani and Japanese schools in Dubai have started their new academic year, with some more opening on Tuesday and others by the end of the week.
Schools following all other curriculums are still on spring break, which lasts around three weeks. Those schools will reopen next week for their final term before the summer break, which starts in June.
There are many Indian schools in the UAE owing to the large number of Indian expats here — around 2.6 million. In Dubai alone, there are 33 Indian schools teaching almost 80,000 students.
According to Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority, this year’s inspection findings indicate that 65 per cent of students in Indian curriculum schools now attend schools that are rated ‘good’ or better, compared to 35 per cent when inspections started in 2009. Two Indian schools were rated ‘outstanding’ in the latest cycle.
Dr Ashok Kumar, CEO of Indian High School in Dubai, said he was happy to see all 12,700 students return to class. “In this Year of Giving, in which the new school year has started, let us all give smiles and our time and effort to each other. We want to create and spread happiness and I wish all students the best,” Dr Kumar said.
Michael Guzder, Executive Principal of The Millennium School Dubai and Vice-President Indian Schools, GEMS, said: “It gives me immense pleasure to welcome all pupils back to The Millennium School and GEMS Indian curriculum schools. New pupils, some new staff and definitely challenges as well. Lets all rise to the occasion and get ready to give of our best.”
In Sharjah, more than 6,500 pupils were back at the Delhi Private School on Tuesday. Veena Nair, who teaches in the school’s English department (senior wing), said: “I hope that this school year triggers the distinctive drive in the little ones to get to work hard, and accomplish their dreams.”
Indian schools will be off for the summer break from June 25 to September 5.
