The education system in Dubai can be described as dynamic and multicultural due to the city’s development and the presence of people from different countries. Dubai has a mix of both private and public schools, which make the educational systems to have different tracks that will suit the students. This article discusses the educational levels in Dubai, the factors that lead to selection of school, and the educational services for children with special needs or those who use home school services.
Overview of the Education System
The education system of Dubai is diversified and internationalized, and the majority of schools are private ones. Education is compulsory for children from age five to fifteen, and most of the learners prefer private schools because of the languages and variety of courses offered. Education in the country is free for Emirati citizens. Still, expatriate parents prefer enrolling their children in private schools so as to learn in their own language and follow the curriculum of their home country.
The system of education has its regulatory body in the form of Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) that monitors the quality and standards of the private schools in Dubai. KHDA oversees the schools through inspections and provides guidelines, and guarantees that the schools meet the educations needs and standards.
Primary Education in Dubai
Dubai primary school education is for children aged six to twelve years, and the classes offered are Grades one, two, three, four, and five. In this stage, the students are provided basic education in the basic subjects, including mathematics, science, English and Arabic. Public schools follow the trimestral calendar, which divides the school year into three terms with some periods of time in between. Private schools usually adopt a two-semester system, and the school year spans from September to June.
Extra-curricular activities are also provided in most private schools to help students to develop in other aspects such as sports, arts and music among others. Primary education is aimed at learning the elementary literacy and numeracy skills, as well as knowledge of social interactions and personality development.
Secondary Education in Dubai
Dubai secondary education involves students in grades six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, and twelve, with students aged twelve to eighteen years. This phase is also compulsory and is divided into two main tracks: educational and occupational. University preparatory schools ensure that their students complete their studies and are ready for university education and these schools end with a Secondary School Leaving Certificate that is necessary for admission to universities.
Technical or vocational secondary schools provide courses and subjects that aims at providing skills and information that relates to technical fields of study including engineering, business and information technology. Students in these schools prepare for Technical Secondary Diploma that prepares them for careers in different sectors.
There are various international curricula offered in private schools in Dubai, and some of them include the British IGCSE, American and International Baccalaureate (IB). National curriculum is implemented in all the public schools and the medium of instruction is mostly Arabic. School week is from Sunday to Thursday, and it is possible to select elective courses according to the students’ preferences and future occupation.
Higher Education in Dubai
Dubai’s higher education is well developed and there are many local and international institutions that provide various undergraduate and postgraduate programs. It is noteworthy that Emirati students have the opportunity to attend public universities including the University of Dubai and Zayed University with a set of offered academic programs and research possibilities.
The city is also host to numerous branch universities from countries such as the United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia and Canada. These institutions provide different courses in business, engineering, health sciences and humanities among others. This presence of these international universities is an added advantage in establishing Dubai as a leading education destination.
Some of the considerations that a student should make when selecting a higher learning institution include; accreditation, program, faculty/teacher qualities and learning infrastructure. Dubai Universities provide accommodation facilities, visa facilitation and career services for students throughout their period of study.
Factors Influencing School Choice
Choosing a school in Dubai involves several key considerations:
Curriculum: Many parents consider the curriculum to be one of the major considerations. There are various international systems of education available in private schools, such as the British, American and IB systems. Both curricula have their own educational and evaluative systems, which affect students’ learning process and their further life prospects.
Language of Instruction: Most public schools teach in Arabic, which may be a problem for expatriate families who prefer English or any other language. English is taught in most private schools to meet the language diversity of the expatriate community.
School Fees: The cost of tuition in Dubai often depends on private school fees, which are higher than those charged by government schools. Tuition can cost as low as AED 12,723 and as high as AED 64,093 per annum, depending on the facilities, reputation and curriculum of the school. They should always factor in the cost and the financial implications of the various schools they are to choose for their children.
Location: Accessibility and transport are some of the factors that one has to consider when selecting a school. Although many people can find commuting in Dubai relatively convenient because of the many roads and efficient public transport system, the location is important for most families.
Special Needs: Special needs schools are those that can accommodate a child with learning disabilities or other special needs he or she may have. Some of the schools have allocated the mainstream classes to accommodate the SEN students while others have set up programs to accommodate the students.
Special Educational Needs and Homeschooling
As it has been illustrated in the section above, Dubai has embraced the provision of equal educational opportunities to all students including the disabled. Some of the schools have provision for specially abled children and learning disability, autism, etc and they have separate programs for them. These programs seek to have the SEN students attend mainstream classes while offering them extra support and learning materials.
Some of the schools that are available for families in Dubai include homeschooling for families especially the Emirati families who would wish to have their children educated in a more customized way. Homeschooling however involves registration with the appropriate educational department and there is a prescribed curriculum. This means that families who choose homeschooling have to make sure that their educational programs meet the requirements as well as the proper learning needs.
Conclusion
The schooling system in Dubai is a true representation of the city as a globalized and diverse city. Dubai has many types of schools, including public and private schools, different curricula, and special education and homeschooling, to cater to its student population. To fully appreciate the education offered in Dubai, families need to assess some of the following factors, including curriculum, language, fees, and location, so as to arrive at the most suitable decision that will help the children get the best. For anyone seeking to live in Dubai, the luxurious houses such as those provided by Gulf Sotheby’s International Realty have easy access to some of the best schools and facilities.
