The Minister of Education has promised to transfer more responsibilities to school directors and education zones across the country. During a visit to Ras al Khaimah to tour several government schools, Dr Hanif Hassan said the move was aimed at improving efficiency in the sector. Decentralisation was a main goal of the ministry, he said, adding that there must be a "clear definition" between the roles of the country's education councils and education zones to promote "educational development".
The extra responsibilities Dr Hassan is keen to give the education zones, which manage education at a local level, come in addition to an increase in the powers of the country's education councils, which govern both schools and universities. The councils, such as Abu Dhabi Education Council and Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority, are concerned with wider policy development issues. Dr Hassan visited Al Baidaa School for Primary Education, a girls' school, and the headquarters of RAK Education Zone.
The start of the new academic year in government schools on Aug 31 will see the opening of five new schools and a kindergarten in RAK. @Email:dbardsley@thenational.ae
