UAE introduces private tutoring permit in boost to education
▶ Educators can send an online application to the government to obtain the two-year licence free of charge
Teachers in the UAE can now offer private tuition services outside school hours.
The private teacher work permit was announced yesterday by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and the Ministry of Education.
It was created to regulate private tutoring outside the classroom and help pupils to improve their learning.
The permit will allow specialised and qualified professionals from the community to offer private tuition to pupils, individually or in groups, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation said on its website.
Those eligible to receive the two-year permits include registered teachers in government or private schools, employees in the government and private sectors, the unemployed, school pupils aged 15 to 18 and university students.
Teachers have welcomed the announcement.
“The introduction of a permit will help to curb illegal and unregulated practices when recruiting private teachers, which risk affecting the learning process,” said Mohammed Al Mualla, undersecretary for academic affairs at the Ministry of Education.
Educators can submit a request for a permit through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s smart app, website or e-services system.
Permits are free of charge and require teachers to sign a code of conduct document approved by the ministry.
Those who offer private tuition without a permit will face fines and penalties as set out in the Federal Decree Law Regarding the Regulation of Employment Relationships, its executive regulations, the decisions regulating them and all applicable laws in the UAE.
In 2019, teachers in government schools were allowed to offer private tutoring to pupils for the first time in an effort to help improve academic standards.
At the time, public school teachers could register to take part in the initiative and would be financially rewarded for doing so by the Ministry of Education.
They were not permitted to provide tutoring for pupils at their own schools.
The plan did not extend to private schools at the time.
A private teacher work permit will allow educators in the UAE to offer tuition outside of school hours.
The decision was announced yesterday by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and the Ministry of Education and is intended to help pupils improve their learning.
The move will also expand private tutoring services outside the classroom.
The permit allows “different groups of specialised and qualified professionals from the community to offer private lessons for students, individually or in groups”, details posted on the ministry’s website said.
Eligible people include registered teachers in government or private schools, employees in the government and private sectors, unemployed people, pupils aged 15 to 18 and university students.
“The introduction of a permit for individuals qualified to provide private lessons will help curb illegal and unregulated practices when recruiting private teachers, which risk affecting the learning process as a whole,” said Mohammed Al Mualla, undersecretary for academic affairs at the Ministry of Education.
He said the change in practice would protect the rights of private teachers and “ensure students receive supplemental education that meets their learning style and needs”.
Teachers who wish to apply for the permit can submit a request through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s smart app, website or e-services system.
The permit is free for two years and allows qualified applicants to offer private lessons and generate extra income, as long as they sign a code of conduct document approved by the ministry.
The new regulations mean that anyone who offers private lessons without a teacher’s permit will be subject to the fines and penalties established by federal law.
Teachers in the UAE welcomed the news, describing it as a “win-win” situation.
“It will not only offer financial relief to educators but also promises to improve the quality of education through more personalised teaching methods,” said Abdullah Hamdan, a maths teacher at Zayed Education Complex in Sharjah.
“It’s a win-win for both teachers and pupils.”
He believes that providing private lessons could generate an additional Dh2,000 ($544) a month income, providing teachers with significantly improved living expenses.
Wafaa Abu Qdairi, a maths teacher at Al Ebdaa School in Dubai, expressed her delight over the permit. “This decision will help teachers to earn extra income without any legal concerns or compromising their performance at school,” she said.
While Ms Abu Qdairi has not offered private tutoring, preferring to provide educational videos at no charge, she recognises the financial benefits.
“There will certainly be gain for teachers from this,” she said.
In 2019, teachers in government schools were allowed to offer private tutoring for the first time in an effort to improve standards.
Fawzia Gharab, assistant
Eligible people include registered teachers at government or private schools and pupils aged 15 to 18
undersecretary for school operations at the Ministry of Education at the time, told The National that the authority would license teachers to offer one-on-one lessons.
Public school teachers were able to register to take part and would be financially rewarded for doing so by the ministry.
They were told they would not be able to provide tutoring for pupils at their own schools.
The initiative applied only to public schools and was not being offered in private schools at the time.