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29 March 2024

Dubai students aged 15 must co-sign legal contract with school

Published
By Sneha May Francis

Based on the positive feedback received by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), the Parent School Contract will now have an additional clause this year that makes it mandatory for all students aged 15 or above to co-sign the contract along with their parents.

This, Dubai’s education regulatory authority explains, is to acknowledge that the students have read the contract as well.

According to Amal Bel Hasa, Chief of Compliance and Resolution Commission at KHDA, the top complaint that the parent-school contract addressed was regarding “student conduct”.

The policy must also ensure that parents and students using social media forums demonstrate respect for all members of the school community.

KHDA maintains that a decision to introduce the Parent School Contract in 18 more Dubai schools has been taken after a 20 per cent drop in the number of complaints was recorded between schools and parents who had inked the deal.

“The introduction of the Parent School Contract programme has been very successful,” said Amal Bel Hasa.

The authority has decided to implement the concept in 18 more Dubai schools for the academic year 2014-15.

With the addition of 18 more schools, it will bring the total number of schools under this contract to 24, and will involve a total of 38,624 students.

This will impact 22,885 Emiratis, which accounts for 78 per cent of the Emirati student population in Dubai private schools.

According to the KHDA, the legal contracts will be made available at the end of the 2013-14 academic year, allowing schools and parents enough time to read and understand the content.

They will also enable them to “choose the most convenient time to sign”.

KHDA added that the “contract will be updated annually and will be mandatory for registration and re-registration”.

Amal added that they are now working towards raising awareness about the importance of the programme. And, “to ensure every school and parent reads and understands the clauses before signing”.

“The contract is an essential tool for developing constructive and cooperative relationships between schools and parents. It fully outlines the expectations and responsibilities of both parties, protects their rights, and serves as a reference guide for solving any misunderstandings that may arise. KHDA will always refer to the contract for its decision making,” she added.

During the pilot phase, last year, the contract was introduced in 6 schools and impacted a total of 9,632 students. Ninety-six per cent of the legally binding contracts were signed last year.

KHDA added that it plans to include all private schools under this contract within the next three to five years.

List of all 24 schools that will be part of Phase II

1.       Dubai National School

2.       Dubai National School ( Branch)

3.       Dubai International private School - BR

4.       Al Khaleej National School

5.       The School of Research Science

6.       Dubai International private School

7.       Dubai Arabian American Private School

8.       Al Shurooq Private School

9.       New World  School Private

10.   Al Mawakeb School - Br

11.   Al Maaref Private School (LLC)

12.   Mirdif Private School

13.   New Academy School

14.   Sharjah & American International Private school

15.   International Academic School

16.   Al Arqm Private School

17.   Dar Al Marefa School

18.   Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Islamic Institute

19.   Al Mizhar American Academy School

20.   Al Ittihad Private School (BR)

21.   Dubai Modern Education School

22.   Al Ittihad Private school

23.   Modern Skills School

24.   Greenwood International School