Parents welcome regular reports on Abu Dhabi's private schools

ABU DHABI // Parents have welcomed Adec's first published reports on the emirate's private schools, saying the practice could raise standards if done regularly.
Sarah Nweihed, whose four-year-old daughter attends Lycee Francais Theodore Monod - rated satisfactory by Adec - said that with private schooling so expensive, parents had the right to know whether their money was being well spent.
"It's hard to choose a school for your children. It's basically a home away from home."
The Lebanese mother chose the school because it was private, French curriculum and offered a wide range of activities.
Two-thirds of Abu Dhabi's 146 private schools were rated unsatisfactory or poor.
"I'm a little surprised because private schools are supposed to be the best, but I'm happy to know," said Ms Nweihed. "I'd rather have 10 good schools than 50 bad ones.
But, she added, publishing the ratings would not be enough.
"It's important that Adec explain where schools have gone wrong, and how they can improve. There are a lot of people living here and they need good schools."
The Adec report said of Lycee Francais Theodore Monod: "The school has many good features, but these are counterbalanced by particular weaknesses in Arabic, Islamic studies and social studies. Senior leaders are passionate about learning and are ambitious to improve the school while maintaining its distinctive trilingual nature. This aspect of the school's vision is particularly successful."
Ms Nweihed suggested publishing rankings biannually.
Suzie Mehsen, also Lebanese, has two children enrolled at the school, aged six and eight. She works at the school as a translator.
Ms Mehsen said parents with children at poorly ranked schools would probably consider changing.
"I think it would be a shock for many parents to know that their school is not good."
halbustani@thenational.ae