34% private schools in Abu Dhabi improve their performance ranking

Abu Dhabi - Evaluations will continue among the remaining private schools for 2018-19.

Thirty-four per cent of private schools in Abu Dhabi have improved their ranking while five per cent have slipped down in the latest performance report card issued by the Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek).
The Private Schools and Quality Assurance (PSQA) Sector at Adek on Sunday announced the results for the first year of fifth round of its inspection, which showed significant improvement in the private schools' performance compared with last year's rating. British and American curriculum schools topped the ranking.

In the series of inspections, 104 private schools were evaluated across Abu Dhabi and more than 12,000 lesson observations were completed. Additionally, 13 monitoring visits were conducted.
According to the results, 12 schools (11 per cent) were rated 'very good'; 27 schools (26 per cent) were marked as 'good'; eight schools (8 per cent) were found 'weak'; and four schools (4 per cent) were 'outstanding'. In addition, 53 schools (51 per cent) were rated 'acceptable'.
In terms of the quality of education per school curriculum, out of the 25 schools that follow the British curriculum, 56 per cent were described as having 'good' or better quality, and 44 per cent got an 'acceptable' mark.
Whereas out of the 32 American curriculum schools, 53 per cent got a 'good' or 'better' quality mark; 41 per cent received an 'acceptable' rating; and six per cent were seen as 'weak'.
Among the 23 schools that follow the Ministry of Education curriculum, 13 per cent were marked as having 'good' quality; 78 per cent, 'acceptable' quality; and nine per cent got a weak rating.
Thirty-six per cent of the 11 Indian curriculum schools were seen to be providing 'good' quality education; 55 per cent were in the 'acceptable' level; and  nine per cent were marked as 'weak'.
Finally, for schools that follow other curriculum groups such as French, International Baccalaureate, and Asian curriculum, 39 per cent of 13 schools were either 'good' or better; 38 percent, 'acceptable'; and 23 percent, 'weak'. Out of the four schools that were rated 'outstanding' in the year 2017-18, three follow the British curriculum and one follows the International Baccalaureate curriculum.
Looking into the quality of student achievement, teaching, and assessment, the inspection showed that 42 per cent of the private schools were either 'good' or above; 51 per cent were 'acceptable'; and seven per cent were weak.
For leadership and management, 49 per cent were marked as 'good'; 43 per cent were 'acceptable'; and 8 per cent were 'weak'.
The PSQA Sector also mapped out some student demographics among the schools. The recent inspection found that 61 per cent of Emirati students currently attend schools that provide education of 'good' or even better quality, 25 per cent of which study in 'very good' and 'outstanding' schools. Meanwhile, four per cent of them attend schools evaluated as 'weak', and 35 per cent were in 'acceptable' schools.
Out of the 104 schools, 63 are in Abu Dhabi, 39 are in Al Ain, and two schools are in Al Dhafra.
Adek's evaluation paints a more positive picture when it comes to other aspects of education. This includes students' personal and social development, as well as protection, care, guidance, and support. Seventy-four per cent of the schools were rated 'good' or better on student's personal and social development, while 78 per cent of them got a 'good' or better mark for protecting, caring, and providing support and guidance for students.
Evaluations will continue among the remaining private schools for 2018-19, with Inspection and Monitoring Division completing the fifth round by June 2019.
British schools 'outstanding'
Based on the latest Adek inspection, four out of 104 private schools got an 'outstanding' rating, three of which are British curriculum schools and one follows the International Baccalaureate programme.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi