Dubai, UAE – In a significant boost to the UAE’s educational landscape, Gems Education, the largest private school operator in the region, has announced the recruitment of nearly 2,000 new teachers from 57 different nationalities.
This move is part of the group’s extensive preparations for the new academic year and reflects its ongoing commitment to meeting the growing demand for quality education.
Dino Varkey, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Gems Education, revealed the hiring figures during a media roundtable held in Dubai on Tuesday.
“We have hired 1,850 new teaching recruits,” Varkey stated. “This is slightly less than the number of teachers we hired last year because we have done a good job of retaining our staff.”
The announcement was made in conjunction with the annual Gems Awareness Day, an event designed to welcome new teachers into the Gems Education family.
The new recruits include a diverse mix of educators, with British nationals leading the pack, followed by teachers from India and Egypt. This reflects the group’s strategy of bringing in international talent to enrich the learning environment across its schools.
Expansion of Facilities and Capacity
In addition to bolstering its teaching staff, Gems Education is also expanding its physical presence in the UAE. The group plans to open two new schools and add new seats to several existing institutions to accommodate the rising demand for educational services.
The new schools, Gems Founders Abu Dhabi and Gems Founders Dubai South, are part of the group’s strategy to cater to the burgeoning student population.
“We have a branch of Gems Founders opening in Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City as well as one in Dubai South,” Varkey announced. “The Founders model has been extremely successful and we have seen a lot of demand for it.”
The Gems Founders model, which offers an affordable annual fee of approximately Dh30,000 ($8,000), has gained popularity for its value and accessibility.
According to Varkey, the model’s affordability has played a significant role in its success, helping it to secure a ‘Very Good’ rating in recent assessments.
The new Gems Founders Dubai South will initially accommodate 500 students, with plans to expand to over 4,000. The school in Masdar City will start with 1,000 students, with expectations to more than double its capacity in the coming years.
Addressing High Demand
One of the notable expansions includes Gems World Academy, which is adding a new building to its senior school. “The new site is very close to the existing building,” said Dr. Saima Rana, Deputy CEO of Gems Education.
“It will look after Grades 9 through 12 and will add an additional 1,200 seats to the school. Last year, we had a huge waiting list of students and we could see that there was a demand. That is why we decided to add more places to meet this demand.”
Overall, Gems Education’s expansion will increase its total number of schools in the UAE to 44. Additional seats have been added across several other Gems schools, raising the group’s total capacity to 4,200.
The group anticipates over 140,000 enrollments by the beginning of the new academic term next week.
A Warm Welcome to New Teachers
The arrival of new teachers marks an exciting period for the group and the broader educational community. For some recruits, this represents their first experience in Dubai, while for others, it is a return to familiar surroundings.
Mathematics teacher Martin Green, who has just relocated to Dubai, expressed his enthusiasm about joining the Gems team.
“It is my first time working in the UAE and I am really excited to be here,” said Green. “I have been working for the last eight years in the UK and I am excited to bring my expertise here.”
On the other hand, Jordanian teacher Rana, an alumna of Gems Cambridge International School Dubai, is returning to her roots. “Fourteen years later I am back where I started,” she said.
“It is interesting to enjoy the experience of a teacher here. I will be teaching students in Grades 9 up to Grade 12. I am so excited to interact with these teenagers during such an important time of their life and I hope to learn from them as much as they learn from me.”
Rigorous Selection Process
Varkey also highlighted the competitive nature of the hiring process, revealing that the group received an astounding 600,000 applications over the past year. “Of these, we hired 2,000 teachers,” he noted. “That means just 0.3 percent of the applicants were successful.”
The rigorous selection process not only assesses candidates’ core subject knowledge but also evaluates their passion for teaching and their ability to connect with students.
This approach ensures that the group hires educators who are not only skilled but also genuinely dedicated to fostering a positive learning environment.
Looking Ahead
With the new academic year approaching, Gems Education is poised to continue its role as a leading educational provider in the UAE.
The expansion of its teaching staff and facilities reflects a proactive approach to addressing the growing demand for high-quality education and underscores the group’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of learners.
As the new schools and additional seats come into operation, Gems Education will be well-positioned to offer more opportunities for students and further strengthen its reputation as a key player in the UAE’s educational sector.