Latest news with #privateSchools
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
Dubai's KHDA releases new school calendar; full list of 2025 holidays revealed
The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has released the official academic calendar for the 2025–2026 school year, outlining key term dates and holidays for Dubai's private schools. According to this calendar issued on Monday, classes will resume on August 25, 2025, following a two-month summer break. The winter holidays will begin on December 15, with students returning to school on January 5, 2026 after a three-week break. Spring break is scheduled to start on March 23, with most schools resuming classes on April 6. However, schools following the Ministry of Education (MoE) curriculum will return a week later, on April 13. The end-of-year dates vary depending on the curriculum. Schools offering international curricula must remain open until at least June 26, 2026. Meanwhile, Indian curriculum schools, which begin their academic session in April, will end their school year on March 31, 2026. In total, the academic year will include a minimum of 182 school days, reflecting KHDA's ongoing commitment to maintaining instructional quality and ensuring adequate learning time for students. The updated calendar applies to all private schools in Dubai that begin their academic year in August. The calendar also aims to help schools, educators, and families plan more effectively for the year ahead.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pacelli among those institutions keeping an eye on potential state level cuts
May 30—Around a week ago Pacelli Catholic Schools recognized another successful class during its 2025 Commencement, graduating all 11 of its students. It's a trend that has continued over the years as the school has boasted a 98.6% 10-year graduation rate and even though class sizes range on the low end of students per class, it's a mark Pacelli has nonetheless become proud of. However, recent maneuvering within the Minnesota State Legislature have raised anxieties regarding non-public schools funding Pacelli receives from the State of Minnesota. "This has been huge in the private school world," said Pacelli Advancement Director and social Studies teacher Nick McGrath. State law allows reimbursement to schools regardless of whether or not they go to a public or private school. That reimbursement funding goes towards things like busing, however, in his most recent budget proposal, Gov. Tim Walz pinned the cutting of $109 million in funding for non-public school aid as well as funding for busing non-public school students. It's something those in the private school sector, including Pacelli, have been watching closely as the school could miss out on close to $1,100 per student. "It's just a really touchy subject if we lost our funding," McGrath said. There are plenty of misconceptions that float around in the orbit of private schools including things like its education for the upper class or in Pacelli's case, you have to be Catholic to attend — neither of which are true in its case. "There's a common saying that if you've seen one private school, you've seen one private school," McGrath said, adding that Pacelli's enrollment mirrors its much bigger neighbor across the street, Austin High School, in terms of demographics. "You don't have to jump through hoops," he said. "Seventy-five percent of the student body receives aid of some kind. We mirror the demographics of the public system." A large chunk of Pacelli's overall each year comes from fundraising, including its biggest fundraiser, the Pacelli Auction, which this year aimed for raising between $225,000 and $250,000 and uses the money for things like scholarships. The school was actually saved through a fundraiser in 1992 when the financial strain of keeping the school open very nearly closed the school permanently. This year, the auction raised a total net profit of $217,531.67. While the legislature failed to get a budget passed during the regular session, it is now facing a special session to get it completed. However, the proposal has since been indefinitely postponed. Lobbying groups for private schools have opposed the bill, with the Minnesota Association of Independent schools citing that it's contradictory to state intentions. "This legislation directly contradicts long-standing Minnesota policy that ensures equitable access to educational benefits for all students, including those attending nonpublic schools," the MAIS said in a letter to the Minnesota Senate Education Finance Committee on March 30. However, educator unions have voiced support for the bill saying that money generated from the public should be used for public education. It's a source of frustration for private schools who say that education standards often cross over with those of public schools and in some cases, like Pacelli, the only difference tends to be that faith is a guiding principle. "We do not offer a cut-rate education," McGrath said. "You are not being served 80% coming Pacelli. What you are getting is a comprehensive education rooted in faith."
CBC
21-05-2025
- CBC
PowerSchool hack prompts privacy commissioner to probe Alberta educational institutions
Probe will investigate whether Alberta school boards, private schools and other institutions are meeting obligations under privacy legislation, in the face of a mass data breach and extortion attempts.
Times
17-05-2025
- Business
- Times
Private school exodus of 13,000 dwarfs ministers' predictions
The number of pupils at private schools has fallen by more than 13,000 in 12 months, a record drop that head teachers blame largely on the introduction of VAT on fees in January. An annual census by the Independent Schools Council (ISC) of its 1,380 members found the number of pupils dropped from 551,578 to 538,215 in the year to January. It was the largest fall in private school pupil numbers since the ISC began collating the data in 2012. ISC members cover about 80 per cent of privately educated pupils. The figures cast doubt on the government's prediction that only 3,000 children would leave the private sector during the 2024-25 academic year as a result of the tax, rising to 14,000 by summer next
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Reform pledges to save private schools at risk under Labour's tax raid
Dozens of private schools under Reform councils could be saved from extinction after its deputy leader pledged to help them battle Labour's VAT raid. Richard Tice told The Telegraph its newly elected council leaders will do 'whatever we can' to help private institutions cope with the policy. This could include providing emergency funding to schools or facilitating mergers with the state sector to prevent unnecessary closures. The 10 county councils Reform won control of at the local elections are home to more than 140 private schools, which together educate tens of thousands of pupils. It may present a challenge to the political newcomers as the schools grapple with the cost of having to pay 20pc VAT and business rates for the first time in history. Mr Tice said: 'The schools VAT policy is a catastrophe. Schools are closing, children's education is being damaged and jobs are being destroyed. 'Reform will do whatever we can to mitigate the impacts of this policy before we win the next general election so we can scrap this absurd VAT on fees.' When asked about what Reform-run councils could do to support schools at risk of closure, the Boston and Skegness MP said: 'We will look at all possible options within the constraints allowed. But fundamentally, the best course is to reverse this catastrophic policy.' Private school leaders have repeatedly warned that school closures could lead to added pressure on state schools, whose funding is administered by local authorities and sourced from the Department for Education. Since the tax raid came into force in January, an increasing number of private schools have closed and some have blamed the added costs for their decision to shut. Telegraph analysis shows there are 144 private schools in Reform-controlled councils, accounting for 44,290 pupils in total. It represents just over 9pc of all private schools in the country. One third of private schools in Reform councils are located in Kent, a hotspot for independent schools nationally. Local authorities have a significant role to play in cases where independent schools are merged with existing state schools or converted to academies, though this is normally to fulfil their legal obligation to provide sufficient school places. Town halls can also provide businesses with funding, in the form of loans and grants. However, this may prove difficult as many council budgets come under increasing pressure. Reform did not give details on how exactly it planned to use these limited powers to assist private schools at risk of closure. The party's leadership has vociferously opposed Labour's VAT policy. Nigel Farage said before the election last year that it was 'not morally right', and argued it would deprive children of the chance to have the 'best possible education'. Since private schools have been liable for VAT and business rates, a number of them have closed and fees have soared. The Independent Schools Council, which represents about half of private schools across the UK, said fees were 22.6pc higher on average in January compared with a year ago. Wakefield Independent School, which announced it would shut earlier this month, partly blamed 'a reduction in current pupil numbers caused by the VAT impact'. It also said it had faced difficulty recruiting new pupils. By March, a dozen private schools had blamed the Labour's VAT raid for forcing them to close since the policy was first touted. The Government has previously defended the policy as necessary to generate £1.8bn a year by 2029-2030 to help fund public services. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
