Abu Dhabi rolls out new grading system in private schools to bring transparency to national identity agenda – News

The National Identity Mark aims to enhance local students’ deep-rooted understanding of national traditions, customs and values

Abu Dhabi’s education regulator has launched an annual school rating system to give parents a comprehensive picture of the quality of ethnic identity programs and related activities at private schools in the emirate.

The first of its kind, the National Identity Mark aims to strengthen Emirati students’ understanding of Emirati values, customs and traditions, giving them a solid foundation to navigate the global landscape.

This initiative by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek) aims to increase transparency in school performance and empower parents to choose the right school environment for their children, in line with its commitment to greater transparency in schools.

“We recognize the importance of developing a strong sense of national identity that embeds our Emirati students in their culture. The launch of the national identity logo and inspection framework will provide parents with valuable insight into private schools The quality of national identity programs within the country. Strengthening national identity through education is crucial for many parents as it helps to instil a sense of belonging and pride in their children,” said Sara Musallam, Minister of State for Early Learning, Federal Early Learning Agency and Adek Chair ,explain.

The assessment framework covers three main domains, each with three related dimensions: culture, values ​​and citizenship. Culture, including history, heritage and Arabic, is an area of ​​focus within this framework. Values ​​include respect, compassion and global understanding. Citizenship includes belonging, volunteering and protection.

“By strengthening national identity through educational programs, schools can support students to learn more about their roots, traditions and values. National identity symbols will increase transparency and accountability while enabling parents to make informed decisions about their children’s education. This directly supports To develop well-rounded individuals who are proud of their Emirati identity and who are capable of actively representing Abu Dhabi and the UAE globally.”

The National Identity Mark ranking will be assessed separately from Adek’s annual Irtiqa’a inspection, which covers performance standards for private schools in the emirate and provides recommendations for improving performance. Stage one ratings are due to be released at the end of the academic year, with schools rated as ‘excellent’, ‘good’, ‘acceptable’ or ‘weak’ depending on the quality of their national recognition schemes.

Implementation of the new rating system will assess the curriculum and school culture to help ensure educational equity, transparency and accountability in all Abu Dhabi private schools enrolling nationals, in addition to giving schools the opportunity to further strengthen and develop their national identity programs .

Adek will give priority to schools with the largest student populations in the UAE in the first phase. Schools without national enrollment may request an evaluation if they have relevant programs and activities that immerse foreign students in the country’s rich heritage.