13 May 2009
The positive survey results come a month after the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) released a report that categorised 69 Dubai schools as outstanding, good, acceptable and unsatisfactory.
Only four schools fell in the outstanding category.
The survey was sent prior to the inspections to 30,000 parents of 189 public and private schools.
The response from 21,937 parents revealed that 40 per cent strongly agreed while 51 per cent agreed that their child’s school fulfilled its promise to provide high quality education.
“What we want is for parents to give us an honest picture of what they really think about schools. I really want to encourage parents next year to give us a true picture of their child’s school,” said Jameela Al Muhairi, Chief of Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau.
The schools were inspected on seven criterias and a majority of the schools fell in the ‘good’ or ‘acceptable’ category.
The parents’ survey results were in favour of the schools and did not highlight any major discontentment from the parents.
More than 50 percent of the parents agreed that the school encourages their child to work to the best of their ability.
A majority of the parents also believe that their child’s school has a good reputation in the local community.
Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General at KHDA, said that the survey was not about the inspections as it was carried out before they began.
However, the results of the survey were provided to the inspectors before they visited the school to gain a general view.
“We want to listen to what people think and then do something about it, just as we are inspecting the schools and then following up with plans for improvement,” said Al Karam.
KHDA will be releasing the final report on the entire inspection process of 189 schools on May 17.
