School inspection times stay

ABU DHABI // Private schools in Abu Dhabi will still be inspected once every two years and Dubai schools annually, despite the introduction of the unified inspection system.

The new inspection framework was introduced by the Ministry of Education in August, but the 130-page document did not include the frequency of inspectors’ visits.

That was left up to the Abu Dhabi Education Council and Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority, who decided it would not change.

“Schools will continue to be inspected once every two years,” Adec’s private school quality assurance department said.

“The main differences between the UAE framework and the one Adec used until the end of last year is the number of performance standards and the quality levels or scale.

“The UAE framework has six performance standards instead of eight, and under each standard there are indicators and elements.”

Abu Dhabi private schools will now be ranked from “very weak” to “outstanding”.

They will be rated on pupil achievement, personal and social development, innovation skills, teaching and assessment, curriculum, the protection, care, guidance and support of pupils, and quality of the leadership and management.

International companies CfBT Education Trust and Tribal have listed Adec as clients for school inspections.

The KHDA’s Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau manages school visits, but CfBT Education Trust has also listed the authority as a client.

“Adec is working with two inspection service providers but will have more Emirati inspectors joining the inspection team,” the authority said.