ADEK to implement new academic policy in the upcoming school year

The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has introduced a new policy requiring private schools to define clear standards to ensure the quality of education. The policy mandates continuous assessment and the effective management of teaching processes in accordance with these defined standards.

ADEK clarified that the new Quality Assurance Policy outlines essential requirements for schools in setting, monitoring, and evaluating teaching quality benchmarks.

According to the policy, schools must establish a statement that defines teacher standards based on the school’s vision for supporting teachers and enhancing the quality of instruction. This must align with the guiding standards and frameworks of the Ministry of Education, national school inspection and evaluation frameworks, early childhood education quality assurance, school accreditation and licensing requirements, as well as the national standards for the school’s selected curriculum and other relevant international benchmarks.

Schools are required to implement the highest standards of teaching and learning. The policy emphasises that quality instruction must demonstrate educators’ commitment, produce reliable and rigorous curriculum outcomes, reflect core educational values and ethical leadership, and adhere to the National Identity Framework. Moreover, schools must ensure that their practices foster a strong sense of national identity among students and continually develop competencies in line with the early childhood development sector.

Quality standards

ADEK stated that the new standards require strict adherence to the national inspection framework and the assurance of high-quality early education and care. Teachers must be appropriately qualified, possess in-depth subject knowledge, and demonstrate effective pedagogical skills, including the use of modern technologies as teaching and learning tools throughout curriculum delivery. Additionally, teachers must exhibit effective classroom management strategies that promote mutual respect and trust, and they should employ creativity and reflective thinking to enrich their instructional methods.

Other outlined standards include active engagement with all students—particularly those with additional learning needs, multilingual learners, and gifted students. Teachers must be capable of inspiring intellectual curiosity and be equipped with a carefully selected range of instructional approaches that accommodate diverse learning styles and individual student needs. They must also demonstrate skill in the strategic allocation of educational resources to support inquiry-based learning beyond textbook content, make effective use of digital tools, and show a willingness to embrace change and innovate in curriculum design, teaching methods, assessments, and educational practices.

Rigorous assessment methods must be employed to track student progress and inform appropriate individual and group interventions.

ADEK has warned that non-compliance with the new policy will result in legal accountability and applicable disciplinary measures in accordance with its regulations and requirements. This is without prejudice to any penalties under the UAE Penal Code and its amendments or other relevant laws. ADEK also reserves the right to intervene should a school be found in breach of its obligations.

Educational quality is a systematic approach aimed at enhancing all stages of the learning process. This approach is founded on a number of key principles that facilitate its smooth implementation, yielding significant benefits for both students and academic staff.

Some of the most important standards for ensuring quality in education include: