The private education landscape in Dubai witnessed a substantial rise in enrollment in Indian private schools, with an increase of almost 9,000 students within a year, as revealed by the Emirate's private education regulator during the latest Indian school inspections.
In the academic year 2022-23, the number of students attending Indian private schools in Dubai reached 94,499, surpassing the previous year's figure of 85,588, according to The National newspaper. Rashmi Nandkeolyar, the principal at Delhi Private School Dubai, attributed this surge to the pandemic, stating, "During the pandemic, in schools like ours, which offer good value for money, there was suddenly a huge influx of enrollment." She highlighted that the ability to conduct online classes allowed them to accommodate additional students, reaching full capacity with high demand.
Nandkeolyar noted that Dubai's reputation as a safe place, coupled with the success of budget-friendly schools, attracted many newcomers. She anticipated a continued demand for such schools, given the city's appeal.
The overall private school pupil population in Dubai experienced a record increase of 39,000 in one year, reaching over 365,000 pupils, up from 326,000 in the previous year. The inspection results showed positive trends, with four Indian schools improving their ratings from acceptable to good.
Delhi Private School and The Millennium School stood out as the only schools ranked outstanding for well-being, while Gems Modern Academy in the Nad Al Sheba area earned an outstanding rating for inclusion.
Abdulla Al Karam, Director General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), emphasized Dubai's vision to become a global education destination, emphasizing the importance of high-quality education in achieving economic and population growth targets.
School inspections increasingly focused on well-being, with 29 Indian-curriculum schools receiving good or improved rankings in this area. Among the Indian-curriculum schools, one achieved an outstanding rating, 10 were rated very good, 14 were deemed good, and seven were marked as acceptable.
Gems Modern Academy, following the Indian and IB curriculum, has consistently held an outstanding ranking since 2011, attributed to its longstanding focus on well-being, according to Nargish Khambatta, the school's principal.
Recent official data indicated that 35 percent of pupils are enrolled in UK schools, 26 percent in Indian schools, and 16 percent in US curriculum schools in Dubai. The multicultural society of Dubai is reflected in the student body, with pupils from 187 nationalities attending private schools in the Emirate. The Gulf region hosts 215 private schools, offering 18 different curriculum choices.
(With Agency Inputs)
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