Fatma Belrehif, CEO of Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB), clarified significant developments affecting Dubai's education sector.
The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has decided to pause full school inspections for the upcoming 2024-25 academic year. Belrehif emphasized that this temporary halt aims to bolster the teaching and learning experience across the emirate’s schools.
Addressing concerns about potential uniform fee increases for the following academic year (2025-26), Belrehif underscored that any fee adjustments must adhere to KHDA's rigorous School Fees Framework. This framework ties fee adjustments to schools’ most recent inspection ratings, ensuring transparency and accountability in fee revisions. The KHDA recently announced an Education Cost Index (ECI) of 2.6%, empowering schools to adjust fees by a maximum of 5.2% based on their inspection outcomes.
Despite pausing full inspections, DSIB will conduct targeted visits focusing on specific areas of improvement during the next academic cycle. This approach aims to support schools in implementing developmental changes aligned with their improvement plans. Schools interested in undergoing full inspections may submit requests detailing strategic plans and improvement goals for review and approval by DSIB.
In addition to inspections, schools are required to complete self-evaluation forms (SEF) as part of their continuous improvement process. These forms facilitate schools in assessing their strengths, identifying areas for enhancement, and aligning with the UAE School Inspection Framework's performance indicators.
The decisions outlined by Belrehif reflect KHDA’s commitment to enhancing educational standards and supporting schools in their pursuit of excellence amidst evolving educational landscapes. Future updates regarding inspection cycles and fee frameworks will be communicated in due course to ensure clarity and fairness across Dubai’s private education sector.
News Source: Khaleej Times
