As part of its on-going commitment to provide high quality education to every Emirati student in Dubai, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) launched 'Excel Anywhere', which is an important part of its Education 33 (E33) strategy.
Excel Anywhere is one of 28 initiatives from the Game Changer framework for the E33 strategy- changed, transforming educational experiences and outcomes. And all the initiatives basically help move innovation and excellence forward throughout all levels of education in the emirate.
The school improvement program, Excel Anywhere, offers to improve educational quality for Emirati students in Dubai by tailoring support and providing data-driven interventions to guarantee the provision of necessary resources to thrive academically.
The first phase of the Excel Anywhere program focuses on improving schools with a high percentage of Emirati students. This school improvement program seeks to enhance and raise the standards of education and provide targeted support where it is most needed.
Aisha Miran, Director General of KHDA said: “Empowering Emiratis with high quality education, enhancing their educational achievements, and embedding Emirati values to strengthen cultural identity and prepare Emirati youth to drive the nation’s future is one of the key goals of the Education 33 strategy. The Excel Anywhere initiative highlights our commitment to fostering an inclusive and impactful education sector that will shape the next generation of Emirati leaders. Through E33, we are building an education system that champions quality, innovation, and inclusivity, ensuring every Emirati child has access to exceptional learning and the opportunity to fulfil their highest potential, and contribute positively to Dubai’s future ambitions”.
Seven schools have signed up for the first phase of the school improvement programme. Participating schools include Dubai Schools Al Barsha, Dubai Schools Al Khawaneej, School of Modern Skills Dubai, GEMS Al Barsha National School, Emirates National Schools Dubai, Dubai Modern Education School, and The School of Research Science US High School.
Collectively, the seven schools have 6,500 Emirati students enrolled. The goal of the programme is to help these schools progress to a Good or better rating in an effort to enhance the educational experience for Emirati students and close the gap in academic performance in international assessments between Emirati and non-Emirati students.
Schools in the programme will receive targeted support from a dedicated team at KHDA, which will work with school leaders to implement customised improvement plans and track progress. Each school will be assigned an improvement partner and specialised support teams who will work on focus areas such as student achievement, school leadership and governance, parent engagement, literacy, and teaching standards.
Fatima Bu Ali, the team lead for the school improvement programme at KHDA said: “The school improvement programme aims to provide schools with the structured support they need to make meaningful, measurable progress. KHDA is committed to partnering with schools throughout their improvement journeys, equipping them with targeted resources and expertise to reach new standards of excellence. By creating a programme that provides personalised support and strategic improvement plans, we are working to bridge the achievement gap and give every Emirati student access to a high-quality education".
