DUBAI // Most Emirati children in Dubai attend private schools instead of free government schools, despite concerns at the standard of teaching of Arabic and Islamic culture in the private sector.
According to the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), 57 per cent of Emirati children are enrolled in private schools, and there is a seven per cent annual migration of Emirati pupils out of the public sector.
Nationwide, Ministry of Education statistics show 84,000 Emiratis were enrolled in private schools in 2009.
Parents say the cost of a private school is justified by better teaching methods and an emphasis on English.
The Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB) findings for 2010 show a steady improvement in the overall performance of private schools.
Still, that most of the schools are ranked only "acceptable" raises questions about whether it is worthwhile for Emiratis to be paying high fees.
Dr Abdulla al Karam, director general of the KHDA, which regulates private schools in Dubai, said parents will always seek the best option for their children.
"This migration has been going on for the past 15 to 20 years," he said.
"Now, with the inspection reports for both public and private schools, they have the information to gauge and compare the quality."
Nahla Mohammed al Yousef, an Emirati mother, did not think twice about enrolling her children at private schools. "It is well-known that they have a much stronger English language programme, the faculty is experienced and the courses taught prepare them for university," she said.
In private schools, the teaching of Arabic and Islamic studies has been a constant issue. In the first two rounds of DSIB inspections, many schools were found to be disregarding government requirements for the time allotted to these subjects. While all the schools are now complying with the guidelines, the new DSIB report says improvement in these areas over the past three years has lagged improvements in maths, science and English.
"The increasing number of Emiratis in private schools makes it important for us to constantly monitor them, because issues in teaching Arabic, Islamic and culture need to be addressed," Dr Al Karam said.
Ms al Yousef believes the education her son receives at Dubai International School will be unlike the experience at a public school.
"The school teaches him to be self-confident. They have global days and he even learns French.
"If he was in a government school, his English would be poor and he wouldn't get to learn an additional language."
Ms al Yousef's daughter also attends a private school. The school in question follows the ministry curriculum and was rated "acceptable" this year, but Ms al Yousef says its standards are much higher than those in public schools.
"Unfortunately, it also comes down to the lost confidence," she said. "I still think public schools have not managed to evolve like the other schools."
In Dubai, 15 private schools follow the ministry curriculum - with 4,600 Emirati students between them - but none of them received a "good" ranking in the latest DSIB report. Inspectors said teaching and learning were not at the desired level and the narrow curriculum restricted skills development.
Al Shorouq Private School, which follows the ministry curriculum, was asked to develop teaching to promote independent learning, and assessment to identify students' progress. Classroom mawnagement and corridor discipline also had to be revised according to the inspection report.
Nevertheless, the school has made considerable advances according to its principal, Dr Maher Hattab. "The term acceptable does not provide the right picture of our position in progress," he said. "The school was able to enhance the curriculum and has invested in teaching, equipment and resources. We have expanded student activities to make it a more attractive learning environment."
Marwa Hassan, a Grade 12 student of Al Shorouq, said the rank did not bother her parents.
"My mother wanted me to be here because of the individual attention which I would not be getting at a public school," the Emirati said. "Also, I know the scores I get are through hard work and not because teachers have been forced into giving good grades."
aahmed@thenational.ae
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21
- Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
- Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
- Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
- Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
- Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
- Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
- Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
- Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
THE BIO:
Favourite holiday destination: Thailand. I go every year and I’m obsessed with the fitness camps there.
Favourite book: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It’s an amazing story about barefoot running.
Favourite film: A League of their Own. I used to love watching it in my granny’s house when I was seven.
Personal motto: Believe it and you can achieve it.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Omania, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
Winner: Brehaan, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez
6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Craving, Connor Beasley, Simon Crisford
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Prep (PA) Dh100,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
Winner: Dahess D’Arabie, Connor Beasley, Helal Al Alawi
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Fertile De Croate, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
AIDA%20RETURNS
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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FIRST TEST SCORES
England 458
South Africa 361 & 119 (36.4 overs)
England won by 211 runs and lead series 1-0
Player of the match: Moeen Ali (England)
