Dubai: When XPRESS sought KHDA’s comment based on the findings of its investigation, Fatima Belrehif, Acting Director of Dubai Schools Inspections Bureau (DSIB) responded as under:
Any plans by DSIB to launch surprise inspections? Will short-notice inspections help improve the system?
Since we started inspections in 2008-2009, the period of notice has reduced. When we visit schools we need a number of key documents, including self-evaluation reports, timetables, survey responses and examination data. Short notice inspections are one approach.
Many parents have asked for no-notice or short-notice inspections and we are keen to listen to them. We regularly review our methods and such an approach may be beneficial to Dubai in the future. However, we urge schools to view inspections as a tool for school improvement and plan both short- and long-term changes to help enhance students’ achievement.
Has DSIB received any complaints from parents stating that surprise checks work better than scheduled ones?
During inspections parents have every opportunity to inform inspection teams about the actual performance of a school.
At present, before every inspection, DSIB receives surveys from parents, teachers and students. These give up-to-date and accurate information about the work of each school. Many parents, students and teachers take the opportunity in the surveys to answer questions and comment in detail about the current work of the school. These are, of course, confidential surveys.
They are completed a few days before and during the actual inspection. During every inspection interviews are held with parents, students and teachers and these are held in confidence, with each group able to offer their views about the performance of their school. It is often the case that students in particular will report some difference in the work of the school during an inspection period, so such information is not a surprise to inspectors.
Our inspectors have many years of international experience in school inspections, and are trained to see through any ‘quick fixes’ schools may undertake.
We are aware that schools undertake extra preparations for inspections. We do not believe these preparations to be deceptive in nature. Inspections promote greater self-awareness for teachers and school leaders alike. If inspections encourage better performance, that can only be a good thing for students in the short term, but hopefully also in the long term.
How have school inspections helped improve and shape the education sector in Dubai?
From the baseline inspections undertaken in 2008-9, evidence indicates that there has been significant improvement in Dubai’s schools over the last four years. Inspections have contributed to this improvement, but the credit must go firstly to teachers, school leaders, parents and, of course, our students.
Inspection reports have given parents comprehensive, objective and regular information about school performance. This has helped inform parents in their choice of schools. It is our view also that this level of public accountability has encouraged schools to strive for improvement.
Our emphasis upon openness in inspections, with published inspection findings and shared criteria for evaluation, has led to schools working positively with inspectors to identify strengths and address weaknesses. This partnership through shared self-evaluation is key to ongoing success because it builds the capacity in each school to drive improvement from within, rather than depending always upon external guidance and support.
