• Home
• /
• Education

11 Abu Dhabi schools need ‘significant improvement’

Two of those inspected are in Band A (high performing), three in Band B (satisfactory) and 14 in Band C (in need of significant improvement).

The Abu Dhabi Educational Council (Adec) began its third round of inspection of private schools. Nineteen schools have been assessed during the first trimester of the 2013-2014 academic year thus far.

As per initial results, the overall effectiveness of six out of these 19 schools has improved between the second and the third cycle, while 11 remained the same. The Adec also noted improvements in different performance standards.

Two of those inspected are in Band A (high performing), three in Band B (satisfactory) and 14 in Band C (in need of significant improvement). Those in Band A include the Pearl Primary School (Grade 2) and the Cambridge High School (Grade 3) while those in Band B are Al Ain English Speaking School (Grade 4), British International School Abu Dhabi (Grade 4) and Al Najah Private School (Grade 5).

The inspection results, including individual scores of each school, are available on the Adec website. The inspection is part of the Adec’s efforts in transparency aimed at giving parents a clear picture of the school’s educational standing. The Adec said it does not intend “to provide ranking of the schools”.

After making the inspection results public for the first time in July 2013 for the Cycle 2 assessment, Adec said it will post periodic results online rather than wait till the end of each two-year inspection cycle. The results for schools that are currently being inspected (trimester 2) as well as those that will be inspected in the third trimester will be published in July 2014.

The evaluation measures follow an eight-point scale (outstanding to poor), which determines the ranking Band A (1-3), Band B (4-5) and Band C (6-8).

The Irtiqaa (aspiration) programme assesses the school’s performance against eight standards. These include students’ achievement and progress; personal development of students; teaching quality; meeting students’ needs through curriculum; protection, care, guidance and support of students; quality of accommodation and facilities; resources that help a school achieve its objectives; and competence of leadership and management of the school.

Overall results of 146 private schools in the emirate during the 2011-2013 inspections showed that majority of the schools were not up to standards. Sixty-six per cent or 100 schools were “in need of significant improvement”. Of these, 38 per cent scored “unsatisfactory”, 21 per cent “very unsatisfactory” and seven per cent “poor”.

Teaching quality and student learning were the major shortfalls while school leadership was also an issue.

Following inspection visits, schools are given a written report describing their most significant strengths as well as areas for improvement across the standards. Schools are then asked to put together a School Development Plan focussing on their shortfalls.

olivia@khaleejtimes.com