The Importance of Benchmarking Dubai Education: Global andLocal Perspectives

Dr. Wafi DawoodChief of Institutional DevelopmentKnowledge & Human Development Authority

6th International Benchmarking Conference – 6 March 2011

Arab Knowledge Report

Knowledge

DevelopmentFreedom

As a service and asan avenue for reform

Social andpoliticalframeworks

Rights andHumanDignity

Openness andIntercommunication

Some of the Key Issues

Dearth of data and lack of regional and national bodies issuing

reliable statistics

While GCC countries have a high GDP, they score low in

innovation and knowledge development indices

Extremist trends that fail to recognize the Other

Proposals for Creating the Arab Knowledge Society

Creation of Enabling Environments

Transfer and Indigenization of Knowledge

Deployment of Knowledge

KHDA Overview

Vision Mission

To assure quality and to improve accessibility toeducation, learning and human development, withthe engagement of the community

To assure quality and to improve accessibility toeducation, learning and human development, withthe engagement of the community

KHDA

EarlyChildhoodEducation

PrivateSchools

Education

PrivateHigher

Education

ContinuingEducation

andWorkforce

Development

Life Long Learning to fulfill Dubai’s AspirationsLife Long Learning to fulfill Dubai’s Aspirations

EconomicDevelopment

Infrastructure,Land and

EnvironmentSocial

DevelopmentSecurity, Justice

and Safety

Where KHDA contributes

Preparing Dubai’sworkforce for theknowledgeeconomy

ImprovingNationals’qualifications andmotivation

Continuouslearning toenhance the well-being of citizensand residents

Effective joint working across the Authorities to successfully deliver the Dubai Strategic Plan

Public SectorExcellence

Raising awarenessof environmentalissues from theearliest age andthroughout theeducation system

Integratingsustainabledevelopment intoformal learning

Promoting broaderuse of facilities inthe community

Creating high qualityand sustainableinstitutions/capability

Forefront ofstrategy and front-line delivery

Close privatesector working andoptimal financing

Innovative publicconsultation andcustomer care

High quality andaccessibleeducation/learning

Nationals’ skilledand participatingin strategic areas

National identifypreserved andculture promoted

High-valuedecision makingacross the sector

Raising educationand knowledgelevels of all toenhance security,justice a andsafety

Increasingawareness ofrights andresponsibilities

Public healthawareness andeducation

DSP

KHDA

KHDA Link with Dubai Strategic Plan 2015

DSP 2015

KHDA

Dubai’s Education Landscape

227 Schools (148 private)

87% of Dubai’s school studentsare in private schools

77% of Dubai’s school studentsare expatriates

57% of Emirati students are inprivate schools

13 different curricula are onoffer in Dubai’s schools

Indian27%

UK26%

US19%

Public MoE12%

PrivateMoE7%

IB2%

Other7%

Distribution of studentsin Dubai Schools

Why we Benchmark at KHDA?

InternalComparisonswithin Dubai

(Curriculum,gender, schools)

Comparisons

over time

InternationalComparisons

KHDA in 2007Lack of dataNeed to develop a strategyNeed to engage with schools

KHDA main ObjectivesImprove quality of educationDecision making to improveeducationTransparency of information forparents to make informed choices

International Assessments School Inspections

Benchmarking

How do we Benchmark at KHDA?

TIMSSTrends in

InternationalMathematicsand Science

Study

TIMSSTrends in

InternationalMathematicsand Science

Study

PIRLSProgress in

InternationalReading Literacy

Study

PIRLSProgress in

InternationalReading Literacy

Study

PISAProgramme forInternational

StudentAssessment

PISAProgramme forInternational

StudentAssessment

Dubai’s Participation in International Assessments

2007 2009 2011 2012

TIMSS 2007 PISA 2009 TIMSS 2011

PIRLS 2011

PISA 2012

International Assessments

TIMSS - Differences in Mathematics and Science scores by School Type

TIMSS - Differences in Mathematics and Science scores by school curriculum, Year 4

TIMSS - Differences in Mathematics and Science scores by school curriculum, Year 8

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

Country rankings shown in parentheses

PISA - Reading Proficiency (Student Population at Age 15)

485

436451 454

480

453

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

Female Male Female Male Female Male

Reading Mathematics Science

PISA – Differences between Male and Female students in Dubai

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

IB UK Indian US Private MoE Public MoE

Reading Mathematics Science OECD Scale Average

PISA – What are the differences by Curriculum in Dubai?

381

336

415

453

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

Public MoE Private MoE US UK

PISA – Is there any difference in the performance of UAE nationals across differentcurricula?

Why Are We Inspecting Schools in Dubai? To identify strengths and weaknesses of each school to

enable improvement and innovation

To conduct broad reviews using a comprehensive rangeof quality indicators that cover all facets of school life

To share best practice on different levels

To publish results to provide parents with an informedchoice and improve accountability of schools

To use inspection results to inform policy making andthereby improve Dubai’s education system and theworkforce readiness of its graduates

To provide a reference against international bestpractice

Why are we inspecting schools in Dubai?

School Inspections Results over the last 3 Cycles

School Inspections Results over the last 3 Cycles

How did KHDA use the results?

International Assessments

Publicize International assessment resultsFact sheets andNational reports

Engagement and Knowledge Sharing ofPISA results with Schools

Workshops

KHDA provided schools with theirindividual results benchmarked against:

Dubai averagethe average of schools that offer thesame curriculum,schools with students of a similar socialeconomic background

Schools Inspection

Publicize Inspection results School inspection reportsAnnual reports Key findings of Indian and Pakistanischools Key findings of private schools

Engagement and Knowledge Sharing ofinspection results with Schools

School visits Parents, teachers and students surveys

Thank You