Dubai: Is all well with students in Dubai schools? We will know soon enough as a census on their wellbeing begins in November.
The just-concluded pilot phase of the Student Wellbeing Census conducted by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in partnership with the Department of Education and Child Development (DECD) from South Australia covered 2,500 middle school students, including 1,140 Emiratis, from 19 schools in the pilot phase.
The five-year project will cover 70,000 students from Grades 6, 7, 8 and 9 (equivalent to Year 7, 8, 9 and 10) from every private school in Dubai, when it is fully rolled out in November. The results will be released in January next year.
The census is aimed at finding out how students assess themselves, their relationship with others and their life at home and school. Results of the census are expected to help shape strategies for students’ wellbeing.
Dr Abdulla Al Karam, director general of KHDA, said, “We’re thankful to all schools and students who have taken part in the census, and look forward to the increased involvement of parents in creating an education sector whose quality is defined not just by grades, but by happiness.”
Census questions have been adapted to Dubai’s culture and will be offered in English and Arabic. Schools will be given their individual results to share with parents. All student responses will be kept anonymous.
