New Wellbeing Census To Be Bigger & Better

This is the second year for the  Dubai Student Wellbeing Census, and it will be "bigger and better" according to the Dubai education regulator, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

The 2017 findings represented 65,000 students from Grades 6 to 9 (Years 7 to 10) across 168 schools in Dubai. One top level finding was that students who stay in Dubai longer have higher levels of happiness.

The survey also revealed that more than eight out of every 10 students (84%) in Dubai’s private schools reported high levels of happiness.

In year two of the Dubai Student Wellbeing Census, the survey has been extended to senior students from Grades 10 to 12. The target is to involve 100,000 students in the census. 

Workshops are already being held to assist schools in implementing the Census and understanding the results.

WhichSchoolAdvisor.com joined the KHDA on one of its visits, this particular one to Safa Community School where it discussed student ideas on wellbeing, kick-starting a conversation and discussion on how to lead an active and healthy lifestyle that it hopes will continue through the year.

“We have not only increased our target by including senior grades but have also opened the wellbeing census to teachers and adults, Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Director General of KHDA told WhichSchoolAdvisor.com. "To the opinions of 100,000 students, we will add the voices of 20,000 teachers," he continued. Admin staff are also surveyed in the 2018 census.

New questions have also been included in the survey, especially for senior grades. These focus on persistence, hope, academic success, and career options.

Stephen Duckitt, Principal of Safa Community School told us he had been pleasantly surprised at how much he and the other staff members enjoyed taking the survey. “One member of staff said they knew much more about themselves after taking the survey. Admin staff in particular really enjoyed the census... It gave them an opportunity to share their views, a chance that they do not normally get."

At the meeting with Safa Community the KHDA revealed a platform was being structured for conversation between schools, principals and students around wellbeing.

“This platform will enable us to get more feedback from all parties involved.

The regulator is also planning separate activities for principals, teachers and students. "For example, we could have a specific offsite event for all the principals, with one day, or even two focused on wellbeing activities and dialogue,” Dr Abdullah told WhichSchoolAdvisor.com.

So far about 35,000 students and 10,000 teachers/school staff has participated in the census.

The census results will be announced at the World Government Summit in February 2019.