The UAE's education sector is set to welcome more schools as demand is expected to surge. The recent introduction of favourable government policies is also expected to give a major boost to the sector, which is adopting the latest technologies and skills to create a better and smarter future for future generations.
Abdulla Nalapad, chairman, Credence High School, said: "The UAE educational sector even with so many new schools opening the last couple of years, still offers a good growth opportunity. But It's a fact that the current parent community has plenty of options to choose from and we believe that they are more inclined towards schools that offer the best value proposition.This is exactly what our focus is on. We believe that at Credence High, the quality of academics and infrastructure that we offer as against our fee is one among the best value proposition. Our aim is to create more such schools in the region in the coming years. We believe that 'A school is just as good as its teacher', hence our emphasis is always on developing our team and thus encouraging new talents to work in the region."
Among the growth drivers are the UAE's overall population, which reached 10.1 million in 2017, increasing at a CAGR of 2.6 per cent since 2012. Meanwhile, the school-age population under the age of 25 years was recorded at 1.1 million in 2017. A steady rise in the school population is most likely to drive growth in the education industry, says Alpen Capital's 'GCC Education Industry report'.
The GDP per capita based on public-private partnership is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 2.3 per cent between 2017 and 2022. The increasing levels of disposable income result in a willingness to spend on higher quality of education. The government has allotted Dh10.4 billion ($2.83 billion) for the education sector in its 2018 budget. It has launched several strategic plans such as the Emirati School Model, 'Education 2020' strategy, including smart learning programmes, new teachers' codes, licensing and evaluations systems, as well as curriculum revision.
The rise in the number of private schools is driven by the demand for quality educational institutes in the country. In 2018, 13 private schools opened in Dubai while Abu Dhabi saw three new private schools being introduced.
Over the years, the education landscape has grown exponentially and has attracted both educational institutions and students from all over the globe. The UAE and Dubai in particular, has become an education hub. The UAE government through the Council for Academic Accreditation and the Dubai government through KHDA has brought in checks and balances and streamlined processes, ensuring the quality of academic programmes offered in this country, said Rema Menon Vellat, Founder and Director of Counselling Point Training and Development.
According to Alpen Capital, the total number of students in the GCC education sector is projected to reach 14.5 million in 2022, registering a CAGR of 2.3 per cent from an estimated 12.9 million in 2017. A growing school-age population, high per capita income, continued government spending and long-term strategic government initiatives are expected to drive the future growth of the GCC education sector.
"The recent pick-up in oil prices is expected to bring new energy for infrastructural spending and business activities. Additionally, there is considerable opportunity for consolidation in the education segment which, along with favourable demographics, high disposable income and growing awareness for quality education, is likely to play a pivotal role going forward," said Mahboob Murshed, Managing Director, Alpen Capital.
Between 2017 and 2022, the pre-primary and tertiary segments are expected to grow at a faster rate than other segments. The pre-primary segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.7 per cent, whereas the tertiary segment will witness growth at a CAGR of 3.6 per cent. Primary and secondary segments are expected to witness a moderate growth rate of 1.8 per cent and 2 per cent CAGR, respectively. The number of students in private schools is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.1 per cent, whereas enrolments at public schools is likely to increase at a slower pace, recording a CAGR of 1.3 per cent between 2017 and 2022.
The demand for public and private schools in the GCC region is likely to increase at a CAGR of 1.9 per cent to 36,747 by 2022, reflecting a requirement of more than 3,200 schools over the next five years. The demand for public schools in the GCC is expected to increase at a CAGR of 1.3 per cent whereas the demand for private schools is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 4.1 per cent between 2017 and 2022.
Sachin Bharti, Founder & CEO of Knowledge Planet Group, said: "While there are a good number of schools in the UAE, we see that the after-school education sector is fairly under-invested. There is a huge potential for good quality tertiary education providers, focusing on developing specific skills in students such as critical thinking, STEM activities, coding, logical reasoning, test preparation, ESL and life skills."
UAE parents are increasingly aware of the importance of selecting a school curriculum that teaches essential skills for future careers. Norbert Foerster, Head of School at the Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai, said: "The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is known for being an intensive academic curriculum that equips students with the right tools for a well-rounded, self-sufficient attitude to life, not just education."
The UAE is evolving into a smart nation, and every sector is being disrupted with the latest technologies. Francisco Salcedo, Senior Vice President at Etisalat Digital, said: "Etisalat is committed to empowering educational institutions offering the latest digital solutions that will help re-imagine what is possible inside the classroom, blending physical and digital realms from Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) to the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), advanced robotics, 3D printing, wearable tech and more."
Etisalat Digital creates a comprehensive ecosystem of strategic and relevant partners to deliver a managed end-to-end solution, offering a turn-key approach that addresses all key elements in the digital education value chain with flexible business models. "Our solutions include state-of-the-art devices, learning platforms, high-quality digital content, teacher training and professional development. By utilising these technologies, we can provide personalised learning to each student, create close integration of pedagogy, content and technology and, ultimately, allow students to learn 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration with the use of robotics, computer programming and sharing tools," added Salcedo.
AI is changing the way students learn. The use of intelligent systems that answer questions, offering essential guidance and directing students to additional resources, is also increasing. Ali Shabdaar, Business Development Director - MEA at Zoho Corporation, said: "From primary schools to higher education institutions, grading and evaluating answer sheets is a daunting task for instructors and teaching assistants alike. Even though AI can't completely replace human assessment yet, it can automate most of the fundamental grading processes, freeing up teachers' time and ensuring students receive unbiased grades." - sandhya@khaleejtimes.com
Abdulla Nalapad, chairman, Credence High School. — Supplied photo
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