A report of the Federal National Council revealed the growing demand of citizens to enroll their children in private schools, for reasons not related to the poor or weak level of government education, but rather due to the failure of government schools to keep pace with the urban expansion witnessed by the state, pointing out that 60% of government schools are registering vacancies from Citizen students, as a result of their distance from their residential gatherings, or due to the move of some families to new residential areas where there are no government schools.
In detail, a report issued by the Federal National Council, the Ministry of Education, called for giving priority to the establishment of government schools in areas close to the citizens ’housing and communities in various cities of the state, especially in light of the unlimited support provided by the state to government education, stressing the need for this type of Public education is the most efficient, widespread, and accommodating citizen students, through its proximity to their residential communities.
The report pointed out that government schools have become unable to keep pace with the geographic expansion of citizens ’gatherings, and the alternative available in these communities has become private schools, contrary to what was happening in the past, when there was an eagerness to establish a government school within the service essentials in every new area with a population density Of citizens. The report stated that the lack of government schools in citizens ’housing areas provided great opportunities for investors to establish private schools, stressing that the Federal National Council does not have a problem with private education, but at the same time it wants government schools to be present in these places, in order to provide their services Like all services provided in all new areas, such as health, food and economic. The report stated that the observed demand from the families of citizens for private education is not an indication of the poor or weak level of government education, but rather is a result of the failure of government schools to keep pace with the urban expansion witnessed by the state, pointing out that about 60% of government schools are registering vacancies of students. Citizens, as a result of their distance from their residential gatherings, or due to the move of some families to new residential areas where there are no government schools. The report revealed a decline in the number of government schools in the Emirate of Dubai, for example, during the past five years, as the number of schools in 2014 reached nearly 78 schools, and the number decreased in 2015 to 71 schools, and in 2019 the number decreased by an additional 9% , Compared to a marked increase in the number of private schools in the aforementioned period from 169 schools in 2014 to 209 schools in 2019, an increase of 23%.
The report said: «These indicators reflect a real problem, especially in light of citizens’ complaints about the lack of public schools, and their assertion that they do not go to private schools because they are always the most efficient, and then the ministry must have a plan in line with the geographical and population expansion of citizens ’communities. The report appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Education in establishing schools and school complexes in many cities of the country, but at the same time it confirmed a decline in the numbers of citizens in government education, according to the numbers registered in some emirates, including the Emirate of Dubai, which has reached the number of national students in its government schools In 2014, about 25,495 male and female students, while their number last year reached 24,747 male and female students, compared to the increase in the number of national male students in private schools from 31 thousand male and female students in 2014 to 33,630 male and female students during the past year.
On the other hand, the report included a response from the Ministry of Education to the comments received, stating that the ministry is keen to develop schools in various housing communities for citizens to increase their absorptive capacity, and is also working to provide more schools and educational complexes for students of the first cycle and Riyadh in places closer to residential communities Citizens, to save students time and effort and not to bear more than they can afford, pledging to study all the observations mentioned in the report and integrate them into the future plan of the Ministry.
The Ministry confirmed that the high rates of private schools in the country are mainly due to the noticeable growth in the number of students from the children of residents.
A plan to keep up with citizen gatherings
The Ministry of Education said that it is currently working with the Ministry of Infrastructure Development to develop a complete and comprehensive plan to keep pace with the residential gatherings of citizens in each emirate. She said: "The new plan includes allocating lands to establish educational complexes, to be close to residential communities for citizens, and another in cooperation with the municipalities to replace and renew a large number of schools in the various emirates of the state."
The report stressed the necessity for government education to be the most efficient, widespread and accommodating citizen student.
78
Public school in 2014 fell to 71 schools 2015.