Job Discussion Forums

tashidelek · Joined: 03 May 2009 Posts: 23 Location: beijing

KHDA has undertaken an inspection to many international schools in Januaray, and each school will be awarded a level from Outstanding, Good, Acceptable and Unsatisfactory. There are 11 IB schools in UAE got their results released recently, to my surprise, 8 of them are just Acceptable, since I am an IB teacher, so I thought that the IB program can make the quality of teaching and learning upgrade. Is it because the KHDA has a high expected standard or is it because the IB schools in UAE are not doing a good job?

Zoot · Joined: 15 Jun 2007 Posts: 408

I'm surprised you even have to ask that question? How long have you been in the UAE for? The standard of education here is very low. There wasn't a decent school over in Al Ain and none of them are actually answerable to anyone for anything even though the AAESS claims it offers the IGCSE and the SAT, the truth is, it's not actually held liable for anything it does. Those who've never educated their children anywhere but the M.E., have no comparisons to make so they think it's all fine in the UAE

tashidelek · Joined: 03 May 2009 Posts: 23 Location: beijing

i have not been teaching there, but i am coming soon, thats why am pretty surprised. My point is, there are several schools achieved the level of "outstanding" and "Good". The IB schools cannot even compare with them?

The best schools here in Beijing are all IB schools, even though they have problems here and there, more or less.

Well, am gonna have a tough work, thanks for your hint Zoot!

carlen · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 172 Location: UAE

wannago · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 85

tashidelek, if you only knew about KHDA. I went through one of these "inspections" this year by this group. In fact, most feel every school was pre-ordained to receive whatever rating they got, before any "inspector" set foot in the place. As is always the case in the UAE, there is an agenda by this group and it has precious little to do with excellence in education or standards maintained for students. It is political. In fact, rates of increase for tuition are tied to these "ratings" even though KHDA assured schools that this first year they would not be related.

As always, parents should check out the school they are considering for their child. I feel our IB school is a solid educational institution. We are certainly not perfect, but we had methods for improvement in place long before KHDA graced us with their inspection.