Private Schools in UAE Can Decide When They Want to Open
Wednesday 8th July 2009
By Abdullah Rasheed, Abu Dhabi Editor, and Anjana Sankar, Senior Reporter
Published: July 08, 2009, 19:08
Abu Dhabi: Private schools that do not follow the Education Ministry curriculum have been given the choice when to start the new school year.
In a statement to Gulf News, Minister of Education Humaid Mohammad Obaid Al Qutami said: "Private schools that teach a non-ministry curriculum have the choice to start in September with the beginning of Ramadan or to follow the government decision to delay the 2009-10 school year."
Last week, the ministry announced the decision to delay the reopening of all schools until after the Eid holidays.
According to the decision, schools will begin on September 23.
Administrative and teaching staff must report on September 13.
Al Qutami said on Wednesday: "We discussed this issue in a meeting arranged by the Ministry of Education with the directors of the Educational Zones and representatives of some private schools in Dubai."
He said the ministry does not want to impose the decision to reopen on September 23 on schools that follow foreign curriculums.
Most private schools have opted to stick to their schedule of opening by the first week of September.
Al Qutami said the ministry has also decided to set up a consultative council to coordinate between the ministry and private schools.