DUBAI - Come October, officials from the newly-formed Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB) officials will begin inspection of all government and private schools to evaluate the progress of students, curricula, quality of teaching, effectiveness of the school’s management and leadership.
The bureau on Wednesday uploaded the contents of a handbook prepared by the education authorities, detailing the quality expected of schools and the overall role in child development.
The handbook, available at www.khda.gov.ae, will also be sent to all public and private schools in both English and Arabic, so that they could prepare themselves for the ‘Initial Quality Inspections’.
Underlining the role of inspectors, the handbook says, “They are expected to make their evaluations objectively, be impartial and have no connection with the school that could undermine their objectivity.
Inspectors also have to “present an accurate, honest, fair and reliable report of what the school achieves and does” and respect the confidentiality of information.
The book details how students and the teaching at the school would be rated.
The Chief of DSIB, Jameela Al Muhairi, said, “Inspection will evolve further in the coming years and revised versions of the handbook will reflect the changes needed for it to remain a current and useful part of the school improvement story. Inspection must play its part in the broader aim of establishing a global reputation for Dubai’s education system that supports its long-term position as a hub for investment and economic development.” The handbook has been developed after a series of consultations with parents, teachers and principals from public and private schools and sets out the framework of quality indicators which inspectors will use to make evaluations.
DSIB is part of Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) that supervises and monitors schools in the emirate.