LOW-COST VIRTUAL SCHOOLS THE NEXT BIG THING IN DUBAI

dubai — Students in Dubai will soon be able to sign up for virtual schooling, which will let them attend classes and take part in academic activities from anywhere in the world. The concept enables students to earn transferable credits, take recognised examinations and advance to the next level of education over the Internet.

Virtual schooling could cost a fifth of what it takes to educate children in traditional schools, a top official told Khaleej Times.

Dubai’s education regulator, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), has

already issued a licence to offer this service to one school: Dwight Global Online School.

Hind Al Mualla, chief of creativity, happiness and innovation at the KHDA, said the initiative would be on a nine-month trial period. “The cost of virtual schooling will be different from a physical school. There will be no school in the virtual world that looks like another, because it will tailor to individual requirements,” the official said.

The Dwight Global Online School offers virtual schooling for grades 7 to 12, with subjects ranging from math to sciences, social studies and electives.

Online schools typically offer college-style class schedule, with two to three seminars a week. Each seminar is recorded and can be viewed later.