Dubai Schools to Launch Moral Education in 2017-2018 AY
The integration of moral education in Dubai schools will begin in the 2017-2018 academic year, following approval from the Ministry of Education.
A testing phase selected 16 public and private schools in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as seven more institutions in other emirates, according to Sheikha Kholoud Al Qasimi, the ministry’s assistant undersecretary for oversight.
The new subject will be an official part of schools’ curriculum as early as January 2017. The ministry approved the proposed addition after the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, introduced the initiative in July.
Moral Lesson
The education ministry plans to solicit feedback during the experimental phase up to its official integration on the schools’ academic curriculum. The initiative represents a first in the UAE as it seeks to teach the value of respect, ethics and national loyalty amongst other traits.
Education Minister Hussain Bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi said the ministry has partnered with the Court of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and other academic groups to arrange all planning details of the programme.
The introduction of moral education in Dubai schools comes as revenue from private schools in the city amounted to about $1.5 billion in 2015.
Revenue’s Worth
The generated revenue from private schools in Dubai during the previous year may have been the biggest worldwide, according to new research presented at the International Private Schools Education Forum on Sept. 27.
Private schools in Singapore ranked second with $881 million in revenues, while Abu Dhabi private schools also recorded $860 million of revenues in the 12-month period. The inclusion of two UAE cities in the list indicated that the country is a top destination for foreign students.
Data from The International Schools Consultancy showed that the Dubai has the highest number of private English-medium international schools worldwide.
Given this information, many families from nearby countries in Europe and Asia are pondering on the prospect of sending their children to Dubai, due to the high standards of education in the city.
