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School Authorities in Dubai Anxious Following New Ranking

DUBAI - Schools that did not fare well in the new ranking system have been receiving calls from flustered parents demanding reasons for their ‘poor’ performance.

Schools ranked ‘unsatisfactory’ worry that future enrolments could be ‘adversely’ affected and even anticipate withdrawals, following the recent ranking of 69 private and public schools. Last week, the Dubai School Inspection Bureau (DSIB) classified schools as ‘outstanding, good, acceptable and unsatisfactory’, with nearly six schools rated in the  last category.

First Batch

The results of the first batch of inspections, published on Thursday last are aimed at linking performance to tuition fee increases.

One of the schools has even shelved immediate plans to increase tuition fees for the new academic year, fearing any increase could upset parents further.

“I would never increase my fees now and disappoint my parents. We have been getting calls from parents and we have explained there would be a second inspection soon,” said Dolly Goriawala, principal of Star International School, Al Twar, which was ranked unsatisfactory.

The school, which was asked to ‘improve progress in Arabic, raise the standards of learning and even clarify the responsibilities of the principal, has approached the bureau requesting it to review its report as the second round of inspections have been completed. “They have promised to publish the reports of the second inspections in the near future,” said Goriawala.

Many parents have been anxious about the report and the rankings and this has placed schools in a different perspective. Further, there have been many phone calls to the schools regarding  the issue.

According to media reports, an international school had also demanded an immediate retraction of the bureau’s reports citing inaccuracy in information. However, the school declined to comment.

“These reports are bound to be detrimental in the long run. Even though some parents say the reports do not concern them, they are going to base their decisions on these reports,” said a school principal, who asked not to be named.

The Oxford School has been asked to improve teachers’ and students’ access to a wide range of information and also address health and safety issues.

“We are waiting for the second inspections report,” said Nikhat Rehman, principal of the school.

‘Unsatisfactory’ schools would be re-inspected every three months to ensure the school has implemented the recommendations.

Authorities have warned that ‘continuously failing schools have no room  in Dubai.’

Anxious Parents

Six schools — Al Ameen Private School, Arab Unity School, Deans International School, Grammar School, Star International School — Al Twar and The Oxford School, were rated ‘unsatisfactory’.

On the other hand, Jumeirah College, Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS), JESS-Arabian Ranches and Kings Dubai were ranked outstanding.

Eighty five per cent of the schools however have been ranked as good or acceptable by the bureau.

A second report on another 120 institutions, except Indian, Pakistani and Iranian schools, will be made public on May 17.

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