Top UAE private education groups have been chosen to operate government schools, with new staff and management to be enlisted.
The Ruler and Vice President of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid stated that a new model was announced on Monday, 6 June, that would serve millions of students in the country.
These will be called Generation Schools or Ajyal Schools and will be operated by private school groups Taaleem, Aldar Education as well as Bloom Education.
Sheikh Mohammed announced the launch of these government schools on his official Twitter handle.
Islamic studies, Arabic language and social studies teachers will stay in place at the schools, whereas highly qualified as well as experienced people will be hired as teachers for maths and science.
The new education model was established by Emirates Schools Establishment, a group which runs and handles public schools in the Emirates.
Around ten schools will be managed by these groups during the first year starting from this September, rising to 28 in the next three years.
The national curriculum will be adopted, including Arabic language and Islamic studies, with an extra concentration on maths and science.
Initially, a total of 14000 students are targeted under this model, and their tuition fees will be funded by the government, said Sheikh Mohammed in a tweet. Most students in government schools are Emiratis.
He further said that the decision followed various structural changes to the education system set during last month following the selection of the President, Sheikh Mohammed.
The Ministry of Education has also taken another decision recently by choosing Ahmed Al Falasi, formerly Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and SMEs, as the Minister of Education, who will look over private and public schools and universities in the country.
“The government will support pupils enlisted in Ajyal Schools by bearing students’ fees and other operating expenses.”
In 2021, two schools in Dubai, in the Mirdif and Barsha communities, were established under a public-private partnership model.
Under the brand Dubai Schools, they are run by the private operator Taaleem. Fees are in the mid-range, ranging from Dh29,000 to Dh36,000 per year.