Pak schools record no improvement

dubai — Pakistani schools in Dubai showed no improvement in this year’s inspection report by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

The two private schools maintained their ratings from last year, with one being ‘acceptable’ and the other ‘weak’.

The KHDA rated the HH Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum Pakistan School as ‘acceptable’ again. This is the second time it has received its rating. Though, the school saw a significant positive shift when new principal Imran Waheed joined in 2018 and then its rating improved after being rated ‘weak’ for seven years straight.

“We didn’t change any teachers, we focused on training them. We focused on curriculum development, innovation, safety and security of the students,” Waheed told Khaleej Times in 2019. “So, after seven years, we were able to reach the bare minimum of acceptable. We already changed the books, we introduced extra resources, we focused on teacher training, the students’ wellbeing — these are the things which we’ve been doing.”

The Pakistan Educational Academy had been rated as ‘weak’ for the second year in a row. From 2012 to 2017, it was ‘acceptable’, though its rating has been on a decline since and remains at ‘weak’.

Previously, the KHDA recommended to the school that it ensures its governors act urgently to improve school leadership. Other suggestions were made as well, such as ensuring the school’s selfevaluation analysis is accurate, priortising school improvement projects and monitoring health and safety conditions.

We didn’t change any teachers, we focused on training them. We focused on curriculum, innovation, safety and security of the students.”

Imran Waheed, HH Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum Pakistan School