Abu Dhabi releases list of schools that won't enrol new students

The names of weak and under-performing private schools in Abu Dhabi have been released.

The Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) on Wednesday announced the list of 23 private schools that have been banned from enrolling new pupils because of poor performance.

ADEC said in a statement last week that it ceased the registration of new or transferring students to private schools that received 'Poor' or 'Very Poor' performance rankings as per ADEC's school inspection report.

The schools across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Al Dhafrah region have been officially informed about the decision earlier in March 2017, and are expected to comply, said ADEC.

The very weak schools have been identified as: the United School of Baniyas, Al Marfaa International Private and Al Tharawat Private.

The weak schools include: Emirates National School Al Nahyan, Modern Private, Al Ain English Speaking, Darul Huda Islamic, Indian Private, Ibn Khaldoun Islamic Private, Dar Al Uloom Private, Asian International Private (Rowais), Adnoc (Madinat Zayed), Global English Private, Crescent International Private, Abdulla bin Zubair Private, Al Sorouh Private, Grace Valley Indian, Bright Riders Branch 1, Sunflower Private, Manar Al Ilm Al Gharbia and Aliaa International.

These low tuition fee schools study in different curriculum, including: the Ministry of Education (MoE), Pakistani curriculum, Indian, American and British curriculum.

Engineer Hamad Al Dhaheri, ADEC's Executive Director of Private Schools and Quality Assurance sector, said the decision shall remain in place until those schools receive at least 'Satisfactory' performance levels in the next inspection cycle as per ADEC's 'Irtiqa'a' programme.

Al Dhaheri noted that these schools should take serious action to reform their education process in order to meet ADEC's expectations and requirements.

As part of Irtiqa'a inspection programme, ADEC provides schools with detailed feedback and reports that highlight the weaknesses in the school performance. Schools are also required to provide improvement plans and performance development strategies.

"ADEC is committed to improving the quality of education for all students and will support the schools to meet the Irtiqa'a inspection recommendations, compliance issues and private schools regulations and polices," ADEC said in a statement to Khaleej Times on Wednesday after releasing names of the schools.

"ADEC is working with the school governance, leadership and teachers to ensure standards are raised through school improvement initiatives that include reviewing school improvement plans and their implementation, providing coaching and mentoring for school leaders, enabling access to targeted professional development and sharing of best practice with high performing schools."

ismail@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi