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
