Dubai has introduced a new initiative called the Learner’s Passport, which will be issued to every newborn in the city to monitor their educational journey and assist parents in making informed decisions about their children's education. This announcement was made by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) during the presentation of 'Education Strategy 2033'. The system will be implemented in partnership with the Dubai Health Authority.
Aisha Miran, the director-general of KHDA, emphasized that the Learning Passport aims to ensure every child's right to education. It will register children of mandatory school age and monitor their enrollment to ensure no child is deprived of education. The system will identify children of compulsory education age who have not yet enrolled in school, prompting immediate action to guarantee their education.
Miran further explained that the primary goal of the Learning Passport is to ensure every child's right to education. By registering children at birth, the system aims to clearly understand the educational stages available and provide information about the nurseries available. Miran noted that the enrollment rate of Emirati children in early childhood centres is below the global average, which affects their growth and academic achievement. Scientific studies have proven that 90 per cent of a child's brain develops from zero to five, making this a critical growth stage that impacts their future academic performance.
Additionally, the Learning Passport seeks to provide comprehensive information to parents regarding the available educational options, helping them make informed decisions about their children's education. The new education strategy also focuses on enhancing the use of the Arabic language among children, as many tend to speak English, which has resulted in a decline in their Arabic language skills. There is also a pressing need to improve the academic performance of Emirati students, as their performance has been observed to be lower than that of non-Emirati students.
Addressing the rising school fees is another significant challenge families face, affecting their access to high-quality education. Miran stressed the importance of collective effort, engaging parents as partners in the educational process through awareness and empowerment programs that assist them in supporting their children's educational journeys. Dubai’s educational system has significantly developed since 2005, when the KHDA began restructuring, leading to remarkable progress on a global level. The number of schools in Dubai increased from 136 in 2007 to more than 220 today, accommodating more than 32,500 students in private education.
Miran reiterated that the ‘Education Strategy 2033’ aims to improve the quality of education to meet the needs of Dubai's diverse community. Evaluations from the school monitoring authority indicated that 81 per cent of students in private schools receive a good or higher standard of education, compared to only 30 per cent in 2007.
