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Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Dubai's KHDA announces pause on some school inspections for 2025-26
No inspections will be conducted for Dubai private schools during the 2025-26 academic year, the emirate's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) announced on Friday, May 16. 'The decision – part of an evolving approach to supporting quality education in the emirate – applies to all private schools, except for those in their third year of operation, that will be subject to a full inspection,' KHDA said in a statement shared with Khaleej Times. '(We) will continue to monitor school performance through targeted visits focused on specific areas related to educational quality and ongoing development. These visits will be informed by feedback from the school community and aligned with the Education 33 strategy's priorities,' KHDA added. 'Dubai's private schools have consistently demonstrated resilience, innovation, and a deep commitment to students' learning and wellbeing,' Fatma Ibrahim Belrehif, CEO of the Education Quality Assurance and Compliance Agency at KHDA further explained. She noted: 'The suspension of inspections next year will allow for greater collaboration and reflection on how we define and support quality in education. Through targeted visits and ongoing engagement with schools, we will ensure that every child in Dubai continues to receive a high quality education that aligns with (our) goals.' Self-evaluation forms All schools, however, are expected to continue administering external benchmark assessments to monitor and report students' academic progress. Schools will also be required to provide regular updates through their self-evaluation forms (SEF). According to Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB), SEF outline the improvement process of a school, where they are asked to respond to specific questions about their 'provision for special educational needs, early years formation, innovation, the UAE National Agenda, social studies and students for whom English is an additional language (EAL).' All schools must complete the KHDA self-evaluation online document at least two weeks before their inspections. Meanwhile, KHDA early this month approved private schools in Dubai to raise school fees for next academic year on the basis of Education Cost Index (ECI) of 2.35 per cent. In Dubai, for-profit schools can increase their fees based on their individual school grade as per the results of the Dubai School Inspection Bureau (DSIB), and the ECI which is calculated on a regular basis. Any fee increase can only be implemented for a particular academic year and cannot be carried forward to the upcoming academic years.
Hi Dubai
19-05-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
KHDA Suspends Inspections for Dubai Private Schools for 2025-26 Academic Year
Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has announced that no inspections will be conducted for most private schools in the emirate during the 2025-26 academic year, marking a significant shift in its approach to evaluating education quality. The decision, revealed on Friday, May 16, applies to all private schools in Dubai except those in their third year of operation. These newer schools will still undergo full inspections. The KHDA explained that the move aligns with a broader strategy to foster collaboration, innovation, and ongoing development in the education sector. Instead of traditional inspections, the KHDA will carry out targeted visits focused on specific areas of educational quality. These visits will be guided by community feedback and aligned with the priorities of the UAE's Education 33 strategy. Fatma Ibrahim Belrehif, CEO of the Education Quality Assurance and Compliance Agency at KHDA, highlighted the rationale behind the change. 'The suspension of inspections next year will allow for greater collaboration and reflection on how we define and support quality in education,' she said. 'Through targeted visits and ongoing engagement with schools, we will ensure that every child in Dubai continues to receive a high quality education that aligns with our goals.' Schools are still required to monitor and report academic progress through external benchmark assessments. Additionally, they must regularly update their self-evaluation forms (SEF), which are designed to reflect each school's progress and focus on areas such as special educational needs, early years development, innovation, social studies, and English as an additional language. According to the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB), schools must submit their SEF documents online at least two weeks prior to any scheduled visit or inspection. The announcement follows KHDA's recent approval allowing private schools in Dubai to raise tuition fees for the next academic year, based on an Education Cost Index (ECI) of 2.35 percent. For-profit schools may adjust fees depending on their inspection ratings and the ECI, though any increases apply only for a single academic year and cannot be carried forward. Dubai's education regulator emphasized that while inspections are on hold, maintaining high standards in teaching and student wellbeing remains a top priority. News Source: Khaleej Times
What's On
13-05-2025
- Business
- What's On
CBSE Results 2025 have been released: which gender scored higher?
Written by: Madie Murphy 19 minutes ago So many CBSE 2025 students can breathe a sigh of relief for these results… After lots of nervous waiting from students across the UAE, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced the results for the 2025 Class 12 board exams on Tuesday, May 13. The results were revealed and a total of 88.39 per cent of students passed the board exams. 0.41 per cent more students passed since last year. However the girls have come out on top with 91 per cent of them passing the exams, outshining the boys by over 5.94 per cent points as 85.12 per cent of boys passed the exams. The result of Class 10 board exams will also be announced soon so we'll have to wait a little bit longer for those. Each year there is no definite date for release of results so students must wait patiently until the awards are announced. Students can check their results on the official CBSE websites. To access CBSE Results 2025, examinees will need to log in using their roll number, admit card ID, school code, and date of birth. According to reports there are over 80 CBSE-affiliated schools in the UAE. Dubai private schools, specifically the for-profit private schools in the emirate, could see an increase in fees next year as the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has approved an Education Cost Index of 2.35 per cent for the next academic year 2025-2026, Gulf Business has reported. Congratulations to all… > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
What's On
05-05-2025
- Business
- What's On
Dubai private school fees could be increasing for next year
The Education Cost Index (ECI) was set at 2.35% for 2025-2026 academic year for Dubai private schools… Dubai private schools, specifically the for-profit private schools in the emirate, could see an increase in fees next year as the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has approved an Education Cost Index of 2.35 per cent for the next academic year 2025-2026, Gulf Business has reported. The ECI is based on the annual review of financial statements submitted by private schools and reflects the operational costs of running a school such as salaries, support services, rentals expenses and more. A private school in Dubai may apply for fees to increase up to, but not exceeding the approved ECI. Private schools that are operating in Dubai less than three years are not eligible to apply for the private school fees increase in and each application is carefully reviewed by the KHDA. A few months ago, GEMS Education announced the addition of GEMS School of Research and Innovation and it's all set to be one of the most expensive schools in the world, where school fees will be Dhs200,000. and if that isn't the most Dubai thing you've ever heard, we don't know what is. Image: Getty > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
Hi Dubai
05-05-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
Dubai Approves 2.35% Education Cost Index for Private School Fee Adjustments
Dubai's private schools may raise tuition fees by up to 2.35% in the 2025–26 academic year, following the approval of the Education Cost Index (ECI) by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). The ECI, determined through an annual review of audited financial statements in collaboration with the Digital Dubai Authority, reflects rising operational costs including staff salaries, support services, and rent. KHDA stated that the index is designed to help schools maintain high educational standards while managing resources efficiently. Only for-profit schools that have operated in Dubai for more than three years are eligible to apply for fee adjustments, and any increases must not exceed the 2.35% cap. Each application will be reviewed to ensure compliance with KHDA's criteria. Shamma Al Mansouri, Director of Licensing and Education Services at KHDA, said the ECI is part of a transparent and sustainable approach that aligns with Dubai's Education 33 Strategy. 'It supports schools in managing resources while meeting the expectations of students and parents,' she added. Dubai's private education sector continues to expand rapidly, with 15 new schools opening over the past two academic years and more than 20 applications currently under review. The emirate now has 227 private schools serving over 387,000 students from 185 nationalities. Student enrolment rose 12% in 2023–24 and a further 6% in 2024–25, reinforcing the emirate's position as a regional hub for quality education. The Education Strategy 33 aims to open at least 100 new private schools by 2033 to meet growing demand. News Source: Emirates News Agency
