All schools in Dubai are overseen by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and any issues that occur between parents and schools are reported to the authority.
KHDA has taken several steps to boost the quality of education in the emirate. One of the ways they have tried to improve school-parent relationships is by making the two parties sign a contract.
How does the parent-school contract work?
In 2013, KHDA introduced the parent-school contract to address the number of conflicts reported by either schools or parents.
Conflicts were reported to KHDA by both parties whether it was the implementation of expensive services by schools or parents failing to play their part in a child’s education.
KHDA wanted to improve communication between parents and schools by creating a detailed contract that specifies the legal responsibilities of each party, the number of subjects, school fees, and extra-curricular activities as well as details on the communication process.
What is in the parent-school contract?
The parent-school contract includes the following sections:
1. Admission
The parents’ responsibilities
The school’s responsibilities
2. Curriculum and Educational programs
- Mandatory subjects
- Subjects offering
- Choice of educational streams
- Assessment policy
- Promotion and retention policies
- Extra-curricular activities and celebrations
- Graduation requirements
- Graduate certificate
3. Fees
- Annual school fees
- Additional mandatory fees
- Additional optional fees
- Returning students
- New students
- Refunds
- Sibling Policy
- Discount policy/Scholarship policy
4. Communication for effective partnership
- The school’s responsibilities
- The parents’ responsibilities
5. Attendance and punctuality
- The school’s responsibilities
- The parents’ responsibilities
6. Attitudes and behavior
7. Health and safety
- The school’s responsibilities
- The parents’ responsibilities
8. Transportation
9. Appeal process
10. Declaration
How long will it take to read it?
KHDA estimates that parents would need about 20 minutes to review the contract in detail. The important thing is not to miss any details since once you sign the contract you will not be able to challenge fees, structures, or processes you didn’t read.
Does one have to do this every year?
Although parents must sign the contract at the beginning of each annual year, it is not necessary to read it from beginning to end. The parents will be informed of any changes and updates since the process is entirely digital.
Schools can only change contracts once the previous one has expired, which is at the end of the academic year. Parents will be notified of any changes prior to signing.
What is the process?
Here are the steps for each parent-school contract:
- In addition to the contract, the school uploads student information to the KHDA system.
- Each year, the school emails a copy of the contract to the parents.
- The KHDA app or DubaiNow app can be used by parents to sign the contract.
The KHDA app requires you to register the details of your children, whereas the DubaiNow app allows you to retrieve the details by using your Emirates ID number. To use this service, you will need a UAEPASS. Alternatively, you can sign the contract in person or online.
- After signing the contract, parents receive email and SMS confirmations.
- Students are then registered in the KHDA school system.
Is it possible to disagree with a clause?
KHDA advises parents to work with their schools to come to an agreement. You may need to consider other schools that meet your requirements if certain clauses in the school’s contract are not acceptable to you.
UAE residents invest heavily in their children’s education, with tuition fees in the country among the highest in the world. By signing such contracts, residents are assured that there is no uncertainty about their child’s academic journey and how much time, money, and energy they will need to dedicate to it.