Dubai: The quality of education in Dubai continues to rise, with 81% of students now attending private schools rated Good or higher, marking an improvement from 77% last year, as reported by Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).
This improvement benefits nearly 49,500 students across 209 schools inspected this year, encompassing over 360,000 enrolled students, including 10 schools inspected for the first time. Among these, 23 schools were rated Outstanding, 48 Very Good, 85 Good, and 51 Acceptable, with two schools rated Weak and none as Very Weak. Overall, 26 schools showed improvement, while three schools experienced a decline in their ratings.
Aisha Abdulla Miran, Director General of KHDA, commented, “The continuous enhancement of school ratings reflects their dedication to delivering high-quality education. Dubai’s schools rank among the world’s best, placing sixth for literacy in PIRLS, top ten globally for mathematics, and top fourteen for science and reading in PISA assessments. These results underscore Dubai’s stature as a premier educational destination, aligned with the leadership’s vision outlined in Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and Dubai Social Agenda 33.”
She added, “We acknowledge the contributions of the school community, principals, teachers, and parents in enriching student learning experiences and positioning Dubai among the top ten cities globally for quality education. Our goal is to further increase access to excellent education and provide enhanced educational opportunities for Emirati students.”
This year, 90% of schools demonstrated improvement in one or more quality indicators, with significant gains in student outcomes (67%), provisions for learners (26%), and leadership (7%). Progress in Arabic and Islamic education also saw notable improvements.
Fatma Belrehif, CEO of Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB), noted, “Private schools in Dubai continue to elevate their overall performance, underscoring leaders’ and teachers’ commitment to providing top-tier educational opportunities.”
She emphasized, “We are proud of Dubai’s education community for advancing educational quality and global competitiveness. We encourage parents to review the inspection reports for insights into their children’s school quality. DSIB remains dedicated to collaborating with our education community to elevate Dubai’s education standards in line with future goals.”
During the 2024-25 academic year, private schools in Dubai will undergo targeted quality assurance visits instead of full inspections, except for new schools completing their third year of operation, allowing schools to focus on teaching, learning, and implementing improvement plans. Schools seeking a full inspection may apply, subject to KHDA’s review and approval.
