ABU DHABI // Two dozen schools in Abu Dhabi that are failing their pupils have been banned from enrolling new ones until they raise standards.
The 24 private schools have failed to improve over the past three inspections by the regulator, Abu Dhabi Education Council. Hamad Al Dhaheri of Adec said they had been given “ample time to improve their overall performance standards”.
The ban is the first on this scale anywhere in the UAE. Adec said it had taken the step to ensure pupils’ rights to quality education were protected.
Some of the schools have had two warning letters and were already banned from admitting new pupils.
“They were also updated and informed on the exact inspection findings and suggestions, with emphasis on the strengths and weaknesses in each school, and on which areas require further improvement,” Adec said.
It urged parents “to select schools that offer quality education for their children. There are plenty of affordable schools that offer quality education.”
Adec director general Dr Ali Al Nuaimi said “all necessary arrangements among low-performing schools will be taken until they manage to elevate their overall performance in par with the quality education aspired to by the nation”.
Jeff Evans, a former school development manager with Adec who now works with Learning Key Educational Consultancy, said improvement would be hard for poorer schools.
“Inspectors are looking for best international standards in leadership and teaching, which is great for parents,” he said.
“Additional pressure to drive improvement is certainly a positive move. However, it’s going to be difficult for some of the low-fee schools to comply with as they may need additional external funding.
“There are very positive initiatives brought in over the last few years – bus quality, nurses – but they’re all expensive and schools must invest more to recruit higher skilled teachers.”
Private schools are inspected about once every two years. Reports are published on Adec’s website, although English reports for some are missing or have broken links.
Adec inspected 112 of the 186 private schools this academic year. Reports for 27 of the those have not yet been published.
It did not release names of the 24 schools banned from enrolling new pupils, but in the past three inspections 18 schools failed to raise their ranking from “in need of significant improvement” to “satisfactory” .
They were Al Ain Al Khaleej Private School, Al Awa’il Private School Al Ain, Al Ettehad Private School, Al Iman Private School, Al Ain Iranian, Al Maali International, Asian International (Ruwais), Baraaim Al Ain, Dar Al Uloom Al Ain, Emirates Future International Academy, Future International School, Ibn Khaldoun Islamic, International Private School, Pakistani Islamic, Palestine Private Academy, Scientific Distinction Private School, United School of Baniyas and Universal Private School.
rpennington@thenational.ae