School inspections have been suspended in Dubai, but a representative explained that this refers to the academic year 2024-2025. In clarifying doubts that were raised, an official from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) affirmed that the decision was made in a bid to improve teaching and learning in schools in the emirate.
Fatma Belrehif, CEO of Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB), told media: “About the choice of the decision for schools not to go through full inspections: it only refers to the 2024/2025 academic year.”
Belrehif responded to other issues — such as possible unification of fees for the academic year 2025-26. Any such hike, she said, will have to be verified by the KHDA, adding that it does not set fees for private schools.
“The School Fees Framework is the tool through which schools are allowed to annually review their fees The rate of increment is pegged on the latest inspection rating of each school In any event that schools wish to change their fees, this has to go through the KHDA School will be communicated to in any situation that there is a change or update in the fee framework,” Belrehif added.
During April in 2024, the KHDA identified an Education Cost Index or ECI of 2.6%. In Dubai, the private schools had the right to raise tuition fees by not more than 5.2% of the initial cost which can vary depending on the result of the last annual inspection.
It was customary for Dubai schools to get annual inspection and new rating at every year but that was not possible during this covid19 period.
However, the more general inspections which would have usually taken place have ceased, but the DSIB will make additional visits in the next academic year and these are a selection which would focus on certain subjects.
“The decision (to pause inspections) states on students and teaching and learning process, and provides the schools with the chance to make changes to be fit into their development and improvement agendas,” Belrehif said.
The inspectors will also do scoping visits which will entail making visits that are quality assurance and aim at focusing at specific areas of concern in order to assess the progress made by schools on the improvement plans in the next academic year.
Regarding its Voluntary Full Inspection program, she stressed that schools may apply for such inspection through the formal letter to the inspection team, which will be considered and decided by the team. However, in order to grant the right for inspection, specific plans and goals for the future set by the institutions must be provided.
In addition to daily inspections, schools also complete self-evaluation forms (SEF) – a mechanism that aids an institution of learning to assess its performance and functionality. This must include areas of success and highlighting areas of successes as well as areas of weakness and the failures, the DSIB official summed up.
