School operators are struggling to recruit enough trained teachers to fill thousands of new positions.
Gems Education, one of the largest private schools operators in the UAE, and Sabis, which runs the International School of Choueifat, say the trend is driving investment in teacher training.
“There is a scarcity of good teachers, and any hub that is considered a good source of teachers is being approached by operators globally,” said Victor Saad, the vice president and board member of Lebanon’s Sabis. “There is a dependence on expats across the Middle East and North Africa region and there is a challenge of finding the right teacher, and that is leading to more investment in research and development in trying to create quality teachers.” He said demand for good teachers was driving up salaries.
At Sabis, staffing costs take up to 70 per cent of the operating expenses. It runs 59 schools in 17 countries.
He was speaking on the sidelines of the Education Investment Mena conference in Dubai.
Gems, which runs more than 50 schools in 19 countries, this year recruited 1,600 teachers for the UAE alone, said Dino Varkey, the group chief operating officer.
Dubai had 14,333 teachers last year and is growing annually at 8.3 per cent. But last year, the Ministry of Education said government schools faced a shortfall of 800 teachers in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
About 243,000 pupils are enrolled in Dubai’s 169 private schools in the current academic year, of which 11 opened this year. The school population is expected to increase to 366,000 pupils across 250 private schools in 2020, according to the Knowledge and Human development Authority (KHDA).
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“The quality of teachers is a problem that many of the operators are facing,” said Svava Bjarnason, the principal education specialist for International Finance Corporation (IFC). “And so you see a lot of them starting their own teacher training programme that meets the needs of the school network.”
IFC is the private arm of the World Bank and invests in school operators who take their services to the developing world. In 2005, IFC invested $8 million in Sabis for its Lebanon operations.
“The salaries in the UAE for teachers go up on average by 5 to 6 per cent,” said Baber Khan, the divisional manager at the UK-based Worldteachers recruitment agency. “The school fees are going up as well, the teachers are benefiting but the parents are suffering.”
School fees in Dubai schools run as high as Dh98,000 a year.
Another challenge faced by operators is the rising cost of living in the UAE.
“That’s the reason you don’t see the teachers staying beyond one to two years despite the high quality of life in Dubai,” Mr Khan said.
About 70 per cent of the teachers recruited by Mr Khan’s company are hired from the UK with the rest from the US, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
“Salaries went up by 7 per cent year-on-year across our nursery schools,” said Imad Gandour, the managing director of CedarBridge, an investor in UAE nursery schools.
Started in 2011, CedarBridge’s portfolio includes eight nurseries under Kids First Group in the UAE and Qatar, which expects to grow to 12 nurseries next year.
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Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
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What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare
Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.
Pupils in Abu Dhabi are learning the importance of being active, eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle now and throughout adulthood, thanks to a newly launched programme 'Healthy Lifestyle'.
As part of the Healthy Lifestyle programme, specially trained coaches from City Football Schools, along with Healthpoint physicians have visited schools throughout Abu Dhabi to give fun and interactive lessons on working out regularly, making the right food choices, getting enough sleep and staying hydrated, just like their favourite footballers.
Organised by Manchester City FC and Healthpoint, Manchester City FC’s regional healthcare partner and part of Mubadala’s healthcare network, the ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ programme will visit 15 schools, meeting around 1,000 youngsters over the next five months.
Designed to give pupils all the information they need to improve their diet and fitness habits at home, at school and as they grow up, coaches from City Football Schools will work alongside teachers to lead the youngsters through a series of fun, creative and educational classes as well as activities, including playing football and other games.
Dr Mai Ahmed Al Jaber, head of public health at Healthpoint, said: “The programme has different aspects - diet, exercise, sleep and mental well-being. By having a focus on each of those and delivering information in a way that children can absorb easily it can help to address childhood obesity."
The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
