Dubai: Today is officially the first day of school for over 500,000 pupils in the country with public schools commencing , while some private schools commence today and the rest within two weeks.
New rules and regulations are continuously applied to govern school operations and to regulate and improve the standards of education.
Last week, the Education Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding with Dubai Quality Group to consolidate and achieve high quality performance in education.
Furthermore, a set of new bylaws for private education was issued this summer to regulate the operations of private schools including the importance of obtaining academic accreditation.
The Roads and Transport Authority issued last week a set of rules and regulations to ensure the safety of children using school buses, giving schools six months to comply.
Bus supervisors
Abu Dhabi Education Zone has also ordered the inclusion of bus supervisors on their public school transportation services this year. Other emirates still do not have this regulation but it is under consideration, said Abdullah Za'al, Director of the Government Communication Department at the Ministry of Education.
The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Mohammad Darwish, Chief of Licensing and Customers Relations said one new private school opened in April 2008, and six new private schools will open in September 2008, with a capacity for approximately 7,700 new pupils.
By Siham Al Najami, Staff Reporter