Any future fee adjustments at Dubai private schools will be linked to the school’s most recent inspection result, even if that inspection was conducted up to two years earlier, as the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) resumes quality assurance visits this academic year.

During a media majlis on Thursday, the regulator said schools will no longer necessarily undergo the same type of inspection every year, with its approach shifting towards targeted visits based on data and areas where schools have the potential to improve.

The move comes as Dubai’s private schools prepare for the next phase of quality assurance inspections, with KHDA saying it wants to make inspections more meaningful for schools while ensuring that its resources are used where they can have the greatest impact.

“No school was allowed to increase school fees this year. This was well received, including by investors, because they understood the rationale behind the decision,” Aisha Miran, Director General KHDA said, noting that schools had faced some pressure from operating costs but were able to absorb it.

For parents, the fee implications will depend on a school’s most recent inspection outcome. KHDA said it will draw on its existing data on schools rather than requiring every school to receive a new inspection before its fee status can be determined.

The new approach also follows feedback from stakeholders, including teachers, who raised concerns about the frequency of inspections and the time required for schools to implement changes.

(Source: Khaleej Times)