New Rules For Arabic/Islamic Studies Teachers

Dubai's education regulator, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has announced that it will now directly supervise the recruitment of teachers in Arabic and Islamic studies in all private schools.  Until now individual schools were fully responsible for this process themselves.

All prospective teachers will have to pass a set of rigorous tests and interviews designed by the KHDA to analyse their subject knowledge, understanding of teaching methods and practical lesson planning skills.

The KHDA's yearly reports on school performance have regularly identified teaching in these particular subjects as an area of concern.  This announcement demonstrates that they have decided to take the initiative in improving the situation.

The new assessments will take place three times a year in September, December, and May.  Children at private schools in the UAE are required to study Arabic for up to three hours each week while children of Muslim parents are also obliged to attend Islamic studies classes.