Thanks to Abu Dhabi’s population explosion, competition for nursery and school places remains fierce, despite the opening of a number of new establishments. Waiting lists are a fact of school life, and you may not be able to get your child into your first choice. It pays – to some extent – to register your child at several schools, but this can get expensive as most schools charge a non-refundable registration fee. If you’ve come from a state system, the fees in general can be a bit of a shock – you’re basically paying private school fees for a state-standard system – and the quality of teaching and facilities can vary, although many schools are excellent. The best way to judge is to take a school tour and seek the opinion of families who have lived here a while.
Schools, colleges and universities are governed by the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec). Responsible for the standard of education and vocational training across the emirate, Adec began full inspections in September, considering everything from teaching and curricula to facilities and safety. The findings will be made public and schools that fall at the lowest end of the nine-point performance scale will be closed or fined and required to make improvements.
Nurseries
Demand outstrips supply when it comes to nurseries in the capital and, as a result, fees can seem steep compared to childcare back home. However, most nurseries are of a reasonably high calibre, offering structured British, American or Montessori pre-school curricula. There’s plenty time for physical play, exploration and activities such as music, dress-up and perhaps even languages or early computer skills. Depending on facilities and ethos, some nurseries will accept babies as young as four weeks old, right the way up to four-and-a-half years.
The nursery day typically runs from 7am-2pm with many offering early drop-off, late pickup and holiday camps at an extra charge. Most nurseries like tots to attend for at least two or three mornings a week and, of course, fees vary depending on how many days you choose. As a rough guideline, expect to pay Dhs4,000-Dhs6,000 per term for three mornings a week, Dhs5,000-Dhs8,000 for five mornings. Some nurseries let parents pay by the month.
Primary and secondary
New schools on the block mean parents’ options, while by no means vast, are improving. However, many new schools open in stages, which is great if you have younger primary school-aged children, but not so good if you’re seeking a place for your 14-year-old. English, American and, to a lesser extent, International Baccalaureate programmes are the most common. You can also find schools that teach according to systems from India, Australia, the Philippines and Canada. Quality does vary, though, and waiting lists remain the norm at the most reputable schools. Most ask children to complete an admissions or placement test, which are used either to decide whether to offer your child a place or to work out where to put junior according to their ability.
The school year is similar to that in the UK and US, with the year divided into three terms beginning in September, January and April, although be prepared for some, often last-minute, adjustments to take account of local holidays and religious festivals. The official school day typically starts around 7.30am, earlier than in many other countries, and ends around 2.30pm. Most schools provide a range of extra-curricular activities including all sorts of sport, drama groups, music lessons and field trips. Almost all secondary schools have a swimming pool.
The Ministry of Education requires that all schoolchildren wear a uniform, which can be purchased direct from the school or at Zaks Uniform Store in Al Raha Mall (02 556 5340). Call before you go to make sure it stocks supplies from your school of choice. As for fees, be prepared to fork out between Dhs25,000 and Dhs70,000 per year, which doesn’t include registration fees, facilities fees, transport costs, extra-curricular activities and uniforms, then lie down in a darkened room.
Special needs
Generally speaking, the UAE is not yet well set up for kids – or adults for that matter – with special needs. Some, but not all, mainstream schools have support services for children with learning difficulties and while special needs education is growing, it still has some way to go and may not be comparable with your home country.
Higher education
Most expat kids return back to their home countries for university or go elsewhere to continue their education post-secondary school, but there are a handful of local options for further study.
Paperwork
When enrolling your child at school, you’ll need the following documents:
• School application form
• Copies of student’s and parents’ passports, including both the information and residence visa pages
• Passport photos (at least six, usually eight)
• Copies of student’s birth certificate (stamped and translated into English or Arabic)
• Current vaccination record and medical history
• School reports for the last one or two years (signed and stamped on the school’s letterhead)
• Copy of any diagnostic testing or educational assessment (if applicable)
• An official transfer certificate from the student’s previous school. This can be a particular headache as it must contain the school stamp and official signature. If you’re arriving from a country other than the UAE, Australia, Canada, Europe or the USA, this and the report card should be attested by the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UAE Ministry in that country.
