Which school curriculum then is best for your kids?

As an educator who has been in the UAE for more than 25 years, I have been asked this question almost every single day of my life - by students, parents and sometimes even teachers themselves. Being a parent in Dubai is not easy - with the myriad options of curricula and schools, we are spoilt for choice.
As per the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Dubai has on offer 185 private schools offering 17 different curricula from across the globe. The major curricula being followed in Dubai include: International Baccalaureate (IB), British curriculum, American curriculum and Indian curriculum (CBSE and ICSE).
Needless to say each curriculum has its own key strengths that have been built over the years. The IB curriculum, for example, provides a student centered approach to learning with an emphasis on creative and critical thinking.
The American curriculum focuses on helping students discover their aptitudes and make the most of their talents. It also places emphasis on creativity and social interaction and is designed to prepare students for college and careers.
The British curriculum is also student-centered, broad-reaching and well-balanced, and is intended to prepare students for their future work places. With adequate stress on creativity, critical thinking and flexibility, the curriculum ensures that students reach their full potential.
The Indian curriculum offers two variants - the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE), and caters to the needs of a diverse population. Designed to allow students to reach their full potential, it includes a wide range of subject choices - ranging from IT to Business Studies, and prepares students for some of the best universities world-wide.
It is interesting to note that these most popular curricula have many things in common, including an emphasis on the development of both academic as well as social skills. While some features are unique to the individual curriculum, it is important to note that schools following any curriculum align themselves with the requirements of national expectations assigned by the local governing bodies such as the KHDA.
With the introduction of annual inspections by the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB) in 2009, the governing bodies have ensured that schools comply with the requirements that make education in Dubai befitting that of 21st century learners.
So what exactly are these requirements? The UAE Vision 2021 aims at a "first-rate education system" and has the National Agenda target of UAE being one among the top performing countries in international benchmark assessments such as TIMSS and PISA. This has brought about a real focus on developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills in all schools in Dubai. Innovation and inclusive education are the buzzwords across schools.
There is also a renewed focus on aspects such as tolerance, wellbeing and happiness, thereby ensuring the development of a well-rounded individual. Therefore, it would be safe to say that although schools follow a particular curriculum, all schools in Dubai have now found common ground in that they ensure the holistic development of a child, thereby preparing him for life.
At this point one must make particular note of innovative initiatives by the authorities such as the Abundance Group Project and the What Works Program, which have led to greater collaboration, rather than competition, between schools of different curricula. These programs have been one-of-a-kind projects that have garnered the attention of the world and have helped schools in Dubai to reach out to each other, thereby blurring the thin line that divides different curricula.
The recently concluded DSIB inspection ratings show that 64 per cent of 159 private schools that were inspected have been rated 'good' or better, which includes 11 per cent 'outstanding' schools and 14 per cent 'very good' schools. This is a significant increase from the previous years and shows that there has been an improvement in the overall provisions for students in Dubai.
Therefore, parents in Dubai now tend to look at the quality of schools when choosing the best possible education for their children and they look at the curriculum only from the point of view of ease of transition due to the temporary nature of Dubai society.
As globe-trotting expatriates, families need to keep in mind their future plans, especially in terms of university education as well as to ensure continuity in case of displacement. Besides this, parents are now at ease as Dubai has achieved the unimaginable; it has succeeded in weaving together international best practices into the numerous curricula that are on offer, thereby playing its role in the world stage as the 'melting pot' of what best education has to offer!
letters@khaleejtimes.com
Dr. Ashok Kumar is CEO, The Indian High School, Dubai