Private schools call for review of 'archaic system'

Dubai: Private school operators have called upon the Ministry of Education to review the education bylaws as the first step in standardising regulations that govern schools.

In an open forum conducted by the ministry for all private school operators, many pointed out that federal laws regulating private schools are archaic, promote red tape and impedes the smooth operation of schools.

The open house for private schools was the first of its kind conducted by the ministry to strengthen the partnership between government and private sector operators.

Speaking to Gulf News on the sidelines of the forum, most private providers collectively voiced their opinion that the private education bylaws drawn up more than three decades ago and followed by the ministry and its state bodies are regressive.

Onee private school representative who was vocal about the need for change was Farooq Wasil, Head of GEMS' Asian Schools.

"These bylaws were relevant in the heydays when they were made 30 years ago.

"But today, there is a disconnect between the current business environment and the existing regulations," Wasil said.

Pointing out a typical case of how the bylaws are sluggish and stall progress, Wasil said schools still need permission from the ministry or the zonal authority for every little thing, even to take children out to the park or on a desert safari.

"This is just an example. When it comes to administrative work for the appointment or transfer of a teacher, adjustments in curriculum etc, the wait is from weeks to months," noted Wasil.

The lack of uniformity in the implementation of the by laws in each emirate frustrates them, he said.

Different context

"I have schools in both Dubai and Sharjah. And each zonal authority applies the ministry's bylaws differently in different contexts.

"Hence we end up running from pillar to post without a sense of direction. Uniformity of federal laws applied throughout the country is imperative to standardise," Mariam Salah Al Deen, Senior Manager, Operations of Star International Schools, said.

In the speech delivered on his behalf, Ralph Tabberer, Chief Education Officer for GEMS said, "Private school providers strongly feel that they could do an even bigger and better job in the UAE if there was greater clarity, greater consistency and greater care from regulators.

"If the system I am working in is volatile — if the rules change regularly, if there is short notice of change... it is not just education that is hit... it is the interest rate.

"If the business is volatile, it is high risk, so we have to pay the bankers more; fees then needs to be higher..."

Working out procedure

Responding to the suggestions raised by private providers, Mohammad Darwish, Chief of Licensing at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority said the Ministry of Education has already started the process of consulting state bodies for revising by laws.

"The main objective here is to give more autonomy to schools. We are working out procedures by which schools that comply with the quality framework will enjoy more autonomy than their under-performing counterparts," Darwish said.

Ali Al Suwaidi, Director General at the Ministry said he will take the suggestions seriously and will formulate polices that will take private providers into confidence.