Dubai Schools Improve: 81% Now Rated Good or Higher, Says KHDA
Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has announced that 81% of students now attend private schools rated Good or higher, an increase from 77% last year. This improvement benefits nearly 49,500 students.
A total of 209 schools, enrolling more than 360,000 students, were inspected this year, including 10 schools inspected for the first time. The ratings are as follows:
| Rating | Number of Schools |
|---|---|
| Outstanding | 23 |
| Very Good | 48 |
| Good | 85 |
| Acceptable | 51 |
| Weak | 2 |
| Very Weak | 0 |
Overall ratings improved for 26 schools, while three schools saw a decline. Aisha Abdulla Miran, Director General of KHDA, stated, “The continuous improvement by the schools indicates their commitment to offer high-quality educational opportunities for students.”
Dubai’s schools rank highly in international assessments, placing sixth for literacy in PIRLS, top 10 globally for maths, and top 14 for science and reading in PISA assessments. Miran added, “We are grateful to the school community, principals, teachers, and parents for their efforts in enriching the learning experiences for students.”
This year, 90% of schools improved in one or more quality indicators, with 67% related to student outcomes, 26% to schools’ provisions for learners, and 7% to leadership. Improvements were noted in Arabic as a first language and Islamic education, with 64% and 77% of schools rated Good or higher, respectively.
Fatma Belrehif, CEO of Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB), said, “Private schools continue to achieve significant improvements in the quality of their overall performance.” She encouraged parents to read the reports to gain insights into their children’s schools.
Private schools in Dubai will not undergo full inspections during the 2024-25 academic year, except for new schools completing their third year. The DSIB team will conduct quality assurance visits to monitor progress on improvement plans.