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For many parents, preparing a child for school is a huge task. And when moving to another country, the desire to find a good educational institution is added to this task. Today, about 80% of the population in the Emirates are immigrants, more than half of whom came to the country with their minor children and, accordingly, face the choice of kindergarten or school. And since the choice of such institutions in the UAE is quite large, in this article we decided to touch on the education system in the Emirates and talk about the most popular educational institutions in the main city of the country — Dubai.
The UAE Government pays great attention to the education of its citizens. For them, secondary and higher education is free, but the children of foreigners (regardless of status) study in the country on a fee basis. The education system in the United Arab Emirates does not differ much from other countries: preschool, secondary, vocational, higher education. Perhaps the main differences include the fact that the academic year is divided not into semesters or quarters, but into trimesters and begins not on September 1, but at the end of August. Sunday is a working day in the Emirates, so it is difficult for immigrants who are used to a five—day period to adapt to such a regime at the beginning. The official days off in the country are Friday and Saturday, and school holidays are spring, summer, and winter. In all schools, both public and private, a school uniform has been introduced, which the institution sets independently. In total, there are more than 600 public and about 580 private institutions (including kindergartens) in the UAE. The state provides disabled children with the opportunity to study in special educational institutions, which select highly qualified teachers, install the necessary equipment for comfortable and safe education of such children. All classes are mainly conducted in Arabic and English, but given that a large number of immigrants from different parts of the world are arriving in the country, educational institutions with Russian, French, and Italian languages of instruction have also begun to open.
This education is divided into 2 stages:
Since pre-school education is optional and not managed by the state, kindergartens in Dubai choose their educational program: British EYFS, American NAEYC or Montessori type education. When choosing an institution, parents are guided by reviews and the location of the kindergarten. The most popular kindergartens in Dubai:
Chubby Cheeks Nursery (CCN) is a nursery with branches located in various areas of the city (Mankhool, International City, Business Bay, DIP, Deira). These institutions are British-style, where training is conducted according to the EYFS program using Montessori techniques aimed at developing a child's sensory, communicative and cognitive abilities. Moreover, educators do not just teach, but help the child develop and socialize independently. Education and communication in the nursery are conducted in English and Arabic, but groups with French language of instruction are also open. This institution is considered one of the best in Dubai. The working hours are from 7.00 to 18.00. The cost is from $5,700 to $10,000 per year (depends on the group, the language of instruction and the number of hours the child is in the garden).
Emirates British Nursery (EBN)— it was opened more than 20 years ago and is popular with many parents, as it offers a wide range of educational and entertainment programs: music, physical education, educational games. The kindergarten accepts children of different ages (from several months to 5 years) and different nationalities (more than 40 nationalities), which creates conditions for the child's education in a multicultural environment. The working hours are from 7.00 to 19.00, but the hours are negotiated separately at the conclusion of the contract. The cost again varies depending on the age of the child, the time of his stay in kindergarten and starts from $2,000 to $4,000 per year.
Jebel Ali Village Nursery (JAVN) is one of the oldest kindergartens, opened back in 1976. The educational program is based on the international British Early Childhood Education Program, which focuses on the intellectual, social and physical development of each child. This institution has 6 branches in Dubai and Sharjah, as well as a children's entertainment center “The Ark” under the management of this institution. Children from 1 to 5 years old are accepted to kindergarten. The garden provides a nursery, a preschool center, a group for older children, where the child is directly prepared for school. There is also a summer camp and an extension program at JAVN. The working hours are from 7.00 to 19.00, the cost is from $4,000 per year and above.
Jumeirah International Nurseries (JINS) is a network of British kindergartens that has been operating for more than 40 years. It was founded in 1981 by Ms. Mankani, who moved to Dubai with her husband and child. Under her management, preschool education at JINS received a new direction, which influenced the reputation and made the institution one of the most popular in the metropolis. Children from two months to 6 years old are accepted to kindergarten. The institution is based on the British EYFS system, however, it also has its own MultiSmart Learning program, which not only provides academic knowledge, but also contributes to the social and emotional development of children. The kindergarten works according to the standard regime — from morning to evening. The cost also depends on various factors and ranges from $3,000 to $4,700.
Canadian Kids Nursery is a kindergarten located in the central Business Bay area, where, in addition to English and Arabic, children also learn French. The entire educational process is based on two programs: the American NAEYC and the British EYFS, and is divided into 7 blocks of development — each age group has its own methods. The training takes place through interactive games and practical classes, where kids get acquainted with music, the world around them, household items, and older students learn the basics of literacy and mathematics. Children from 6 months to 5 years old are accepted at the institution, but you need to find out about places in advance, since you can be put on the "waiting list".
When choosing a preschool, remember:
Schooling in the UAE is compulsory for citizens and residents of the country up to the 9th grade and takes 12 years, called "K-12". Since 2006, foreign children can also study in UAE schools on a fee basis. Secondary education in the Emirates includes three stages, each lasting 4 years.
Stage 1 — primary school (from the age of 6). A child can be enrolled in school only after an interview and passing exams in English and mathematics.
Stage 2 — preparatory school (from 11 to 14 years old). The training program is being expanded by adding specialized subjects. For example, such as medical sciences or business management. At this stage of education, students, in addition to English and Arabic, can choose another foreign language (German, French, Chinese). After graduating from preparatory school, students choose a further direction: academic (university preparation) or technical (college admission).
Stage 3 — secondary or technical school (from 14 to 18 years old). At this stage, specialized disciplines are introduced into the curriculum. Here, the division already goes according to the chosen direction of the students themselves: computer technology, medicine, tourism, law, etc. After passing the exams, students receive a diploma of secondary vocational education if they have graduated from college. Graduates of the academic course receive a certificate. Both the first and the second, on the basis of the documents received, can safely enroll in any universities.
Note that all children study together until grade 7, and then boys and girls are separated, but this is not practiced in private international schools.
Private schools are paid for by everyone. Their cost ranges from $5,000 to $22,000 per year. Public schools for immigrants will cost about $1,600 per year.
In addition to the three stages, the education system in the Emirates implies the division of schoolchildren into four streams: general, professional, advanced and elite. At the beginning, all children are accepted into the general stream, during the learning process, the child's abilities are revealed and he can be transferred to another one. After completing eight grades, a child can go to a technical school (professional stream). After the 9th grade, students can join the extended stream, where natural sciences are studied in more depth. Excellent students from 6th to 12th grade are sent to the elite direction. The number of hours in this stream may increase due to the fact that in the classroom more attention is paid to analysis and solving various kinds of problems, again, mainly in natural sciences and mathematics.
King's School Al Barsha is based on the British curriculum. The training is conducted in English. The program includes both compulsory subjects and additional ones, which the child chooses at will or based on the chosen direction. High school students study in more depth the disciplines that they will need when applying to universities. At the same time, you can choose from two levels: A-Level (general theoretical level, includes up to 5 additional subjects for in-depth study) and BTEC (practical level, during which students study economics, business, and IT technologies using the example of real companies). The school also has classes for children with disabilities. The educational institution is located in the Al Barsha 3 area, which is conveniently accessible from many parts of the city. Tuition fees range from $15,000 to $30,000 per year, depending on the class and the number of subjects.
Dubai British School is based on the British curriculum. Primary school students study basic and additional subjects at all stages, and in high school subjects necessary for admission to the university are added to the program. The school is equipped with modern technology, so that students are fluent in many computer programs. A STEM garden has been created for the children, where they can get acquainted with the latest technologies firsthand: work on a 3D printer, do robotics, study VR and AR. The Foundation playground is open for the younger grades at the school, as well as outdoor classes. The educational institution is located in the Emirates Hills area. The cost is from $14,000 to $21,000 per year.
Dubai International Academy — operates under the International Baccalaureate IB system. The program includes six main areas — natural sciences, foreign languages, literature, mathematics, art, and the world around us. At the secondary level, students can choose additional subjects in design, sports, technical sciences, etc. At the end of the 13th grade, graduates receive an international diploma — IB. Special attention is paid at school to the study of a foreign language. Students can choose language courses in Dutch, Finnish, French, Hindi, Italian, Swedish, Spanish, Chinese. No other secondary school offers such a wide range of language courses. In addition to classes, a lot of attention at school is paid to the active lifestyle of schoolchildren. A music-moving room with a spring floor has been built for the youngest. There are outdoor lesson areas for all students, and the sky garden is located on an elevation. The Academy has developed a Gateway program for gifted students, which is aimed at individual learning, which helps the child's talent to open up even more.
The school is located in the Emirates Hills area. It can be reached from the complexes and communities in half an hour. The cost for the primary level starts at $15,000, parents will need to pay about $30,000 per year for high school students.
Gems Dubai American Academy — operates under the American IB program. As part of this program, students study standard subjects in depth — English, mathematics, a foreign language, and natural sciences. However, in addition to the main activities, children attend interest groups where they “try on” different professions: they can conduct an interview as a journalist, or temporarily become a cameraman and shoot a movie, or they can try themselves as a chef. Technical classrooms have been opened at the American GEMS Academy, where students study artificial intelligence, robotics, and programming. In the classroom, teachers do not just teach, but help children to unlock their potential, get to the truth, analyze, solve problems using artificial intelligence. For creative children, the school has open rooms of fine art — 2D and 3D studios, a recording studio is open for musical children, and a LEGO club is open for young designers. The Academy occupies a fairly large area (more than 90 thousand square meters), thanks to which students develop comprehensively. The school is located in the Al Barsha South area. The cost ranges from $17,000 to $24,000 per year.
Nord Anglia International School is another elite school operating under the national British IB program. Up to grade 11, education is conducted according to the British program, and in grades 12-13, students receive education according to the international baccalaureate program. The school is famous for its development — NAE Global Campus — an online platform where experience is exchanged with students from all over the world. The technical base of the school provides students with 3D printers, drones, interactive whiteboards and the latest computers and tablets. Nord Anglia works closely with
A separate building at the school is provided for the stage, where the auditorium functions, which accommodates 450 people. There is also a school linguistic club for children of the theatrical direction, where they teach oratory and rhetoric skills. Robotics and IT classes are open at the school to train technical specialists. For students with special physical and mental development, the school offers specially equipped classrooms where all the needs of such children are taken into account.
The school is located in the Al Barsha area and is convenient for residents of the area and neighboring communities. The cost is from $17,000 to $27,000 per year.
Russian International School in Dubai is the only school in the Emirates where education is conducted according to the Russian educational program. The school is attended mainly by children from the CIS countries, for whom favorable conditions have been created to achieve the appropriate educational level. Despite the fact that the education is conducted in Russian, a lot of attention is paid to the study of English and Arabic at school. The peculiarities of the educational process of the Emirates themselves are also taken into account, therefore, children from three years old are accepted into this school, for whom special classes are open. For the first two years, kids attend Kindergarten. Further, according to the program, the primary level, then incomplete secondary and full secondary education. Graduates take exams and receive a certificate certified by the Dubai Ministry of Education, which allows them to enroll in any foreign universities. Teachers are trying to actively involve students in extracurricular activities: dance and theater clubs, sports sections are open at the school. The educational institution is equipped with all necessary equipment: computer classrooms, a dance hall, a sports ground, and a school library. In addition, the school has its own bus, which takes students to school at the beginning, and takes them home after classes, and always accompanied by a teacher. The Russian Embassy in the UAE provides great assistance to the school.
The educational institution is located in Al Muhaisnah district. Tuition costs from $7,000 to $9,000 per year. The Russian school in Dubai is not among the top expensive and elite schools, but it may be in demand among immigrants whose children still have a hard time adapting to English-speaking schools.
Vocational education is not particularly popular among foreigners. As a rule, after studying in private schools, graduates try to immediately enroll in higher educational institutions of the Emirates or other foreign universities. However, there are students who do not plan to receive an academic 12-year education and consider UAE colleges as an option for specialized education. Their main difference is that all the curricula of such colleges are practice-oriented. For immigrants, they are paid and in most of them you can get an applied specialty in such areas as medicine, management, IT technology, construction, etc. Depending on the duration of study (1 or 3 years), college graduates are awarded qualifications — Certificate, Diploma, Associate Degree and Higher Diploma. After that, they can immediately start working or enroll in a bachelor's degree at a university.
Riva Beauty Institute is a professional college specializing in beauty programs and producing in—demand specialists: make-up artist, hairdresser, manicure master, massage therapist, cosmetologist, etc. The college has been accredited, therefore it has a fairly good rating.
Aviation Training Center is a professional college that trains aviation industry specialists: pilot's assistant, mechanic, dispatcher. The educational process of this institution also includes air cargo transportation courses, aviation regulation courses, and IATA courses. The college is accredited.
ICCA (International Centre For Culinary Arts Dubai)) is a professional college, the main focus of which is cooking. Thanks to studying at this institution, students can get into interesting and modern restaurants, where in practice, together with chefs, they immerse themselves in the atmosphere of culinary art. Many graduates of the culinary college quickly find jobs in hotel restaurants.
In conclusion, I would like to note that when choosing an educational institution, parents should first of all focus on the desires and capabilities of their child. Therefore, we recommend that you personally visit the selected institution at the beginning, get to know the staff, study the conditions and program of the entire educational process. School is the stage from which your child's future begins.
