Key Points:

Abu Dhabi private schools have been mandated to install plaques with their Irtiqa'a rating and National Identity Mark.

A Wellbeing Mark will also be rolled out by ADEK shortly, and 15 new nurseries have also been approved to open for increased access to early childhood education.

Key Context:

1. Enabling increased transparency in education

The deployment of performance plaques within private school entrance points is aimed at enhancing accountability as well as transparency in the Abu Dhabi education sector. Through the exhibition of core performance indicators, stakeholders and parents are empowered to make better decisions when selecting schools.

2. The Irtiqa'a inspection framework

The Irtiqa'a level is underpinned by comprehensive school inspections and ensures attainment in relation to six major areas, such as students' achievement, teaching, leadership, personal development, curriculum, and care and support. It enables schools to identify their strengths and weaknesses and sets precise benchmarks along the entire education system.

3. Building National Identity through Education

The National Identity Mark has been launched to identify the extent to which UAE national values, culture, and heritage are integrated in private school learning. The National Identity Mark is crucial since it ensures that although schools offer international curricula, they offer a strong Emirati identity to the children.

4. Emphasis on well-being

In the second phase of the project, there will be a Wellbeing Mark on plaques. It will establish how well schools support and develop students' and teachers' social, emotional, and physical wellbeing. The addition complements ADEK's overall focus on whole-student development.

5. Early childhood education development

In order to address rising demand for early childhood education, 15 new private nurseries became ADEK accredited, bringing 1,250 new places into Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra. ADEK has 225 accredited nurseries teaching nearly 28,000 children. Nurseries are of the utmost importance in building solid foundations in education, and ADEK continues to regulate fees for guaranteeing quality and affordability.