KHDA report shows improving behaviour in Dubai classrooms

An annual education report based on the fourth round of inspections was released on Tuesday by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

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DUBAI // The attitudes and behaviour of pupils in private schools have shown a significant improvement in the past four years, according to a new report by the emirate's education authority.

An annual education report based on the fourth round of inspections was released today by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

It offers a compiled view on the strengths and weaknesses of each curriculum on offer in the emirate and recommends areas for improvement.

Across the board - at most private schools and across the age spectrum - inspectors found good and better discipline and attitudes to learning.

"Instances of unsatisfactory standards of behaviour are rare, although they are serious and require urgent remedy in a few schools," the report said.

Dr Abdulla Al Karam, director general of KHDA, said much progress has been made but some schools continue to face complex concerns.

"While different schools will continue to improve at different speeds, we will nevertheless see tangible improvement from the private sector as a whole."

He said surveys of parents, pupils and teachers had provided crucial feedback in the latest inspection round that helped shaped the inspection results.

Other areas evaluated during the inspections included pupil's academic performance in five subjects, teaching quality, curriculum modification to meet pupils needs, protection and safety measures, leadership and management, pupils personal and social development and the school's overall performance.

Inspectors highlighted several deficiencies in the teaching of Arabic and Islamic Education. They also found pupils' awareness of UAE traditions was restricted.

"Students in many private schools were not developing the detailed understanding of the history and culture of the local region that they should," said the report.

The annual report can be found here.