By Faten Sleem | PhD Candidate in Education | Researcher in Curriculum Design & Educational Management | Educational Expert in Digital Citizenship & Science Education| Mentor & Coach in Research Skills | ICT Trainer
If you and your family are planning to move to Dubai, finding the right schools for your children could be daunting. But it shouldn’t have to be.
Quality public and private schools are not hard to come by in the emirate. Around 90 per cent of education is provided by private schools across the UAE, and various curricula from different parts of the world are offered here. From British to American and International Baccalaureate (IB) schools, you have several options to choose from depending on your preference.
Below is a list of curricula available in Dubai to help you get started with your research.
- British: This student-centred curriculum is designed to enhance the learners’ critical thinking, creativity and flexibility. Here, students learn how to make decisions for themselves and be more accountable for their actions. This approach is seen as vital to preparing them for the real world and their future careers.
Some of the best schools with UK curriculum in Dubai are Dubai College, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Jumeirah College, King’s School Dubai, Horizon English School, GEMS Jumeirah Primary School, and Repton School Dubai.
- American: This curriculum emphasises personal development and talent enrichment. Similar to the British curriculum, it helps prepare students for the real world.
Some of the best American curriculum schools here are the American School of Dubai, Dubai American Academy, Universal American School, Collegiate American School, and Mirdif American School.
- Australian: All needs of students are treated equally important under this curriculum, thereby setting high expectations for each one of them. This curriculum focuses on building skills pivotal to making the students highly prepared for their future careers.
The Australian International School Dubai is one such school in the UAE.
- French Curriculum: Recognised by the French Government, this curriculum is patterned after a programme of study set by the French Ministry of National Education.
Some of the leading schools offering this curriculum are Lycée Francais International Georges Pompidou, Lycée Francais International Dubai, International Concept for Education Dubai, and Lycee Libanais Francophone Prive.
- Indian: You have two options if you are considering this curriculum: the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE). Both are high-quality programmes that focus on enabling the students to reach their full potential.
GEMS Modern Academy, the Indian High School, Delhi Private School, and Ambassador School are some of the highly ranked Indian schools in the emirate.
- IB: This framework designed by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) is available in many countries, including the UAE. Schools can only offer IB programmes upon receiving authorization from the IBO.
North London Collegiate School, Ambassador International Academy, Global Indian International School Dubai are among the best schools offering the IB programme.
Once you have selected a suitable school for your children, you could share online your insights gained while researching. One way to do this is by creating a list of schools that you believe are worth checking out based on your research. Downloadable on App Store and Google Play Store, the Raayi app has made this list creation easy and convenient through its curation feature.
Try the app now, and see how you can help other parents, too.