KT edit: Dubai Schools addresses a key demand

In the last two decades, a number of Emirati students in Dubai have been opting for private education as opposed to learning at a public school that offers free education.

The essence of a good education system is to prepare young minds for varied opportunities and challenges in life. It is also to educate pupils on their shared history, value systems, and equip the young with the power of reasoning. In a city like Dubai, which is a melting pot of nationalities, schools following different curricula also act as cultural ambassadors of their land, helping build links with international students from a very young age. While most children attend schools from their home countries, many also opt for more established and popular Western curricula to improve their chances of studying in universities in foreign lands. However enriching the experience is, schools following foreign curriculum often miss out on teaching children about the history and value systems of their home countries. The recent roll out of two Dubai Schools by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, aims to address this gap for the Emiratis and Arabs. The two new schools will work on a public-private partnership model and follow the American curriculum, with a focus on Arabic literacy, science and technology, the UAE’s culture, and Islamic studies. It aims to educate the Emiratis and Arabs on their shared history and acquaint them with the greatness of their previous generations and civilisation.