Teacher turnover rate up to 60% a year at some schools

DUBAI // Some private schools have to replace up to 60 per cent of their teachers each year, and officials want to know why.

A study into the causes of the high turnover and its effect on education is being planned.

The Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB), which assessed 136 private schools between October 2010 and April this year, found that the rate was as high as 60 per cent in some institutions. That made it hard to maintain standards, according to Dr Abdulla Al Karam, the director general of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority.

"Private schools have a high churn ratio and this is abnormal for schools," said Dr Al Karam.

He said schools on average had an annual teacher turnover of 15 per cent.

"If we compare this to the movement of teachers in other countries, it is very high," he said. "A normal rate would not be more than five per cent. "We need to understand what causes the movement as there is a strong connection between that and the quality."

He said the high turnover meant schools needed to be constantly monitored, as every new teacher adopted a new process and methods.

Many private schools had a change of management this year. International schools said teacher movement was common because they were recruited from other countries on two-year contracts.