The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) ( ar, دائرة التعليم والمعرفة), previously Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) ( ar, مجلس أبو ظبي التعليم) is the educational authority for the
Emirate of Abu Dhabi
The Emirate of Abu Dhabi (, , or ; ar, إِمَارَةْ أَبُوظَبِي , ) is one of seven emirates that constitute the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is by far the largest emirate, accounting for 87% of the nation's total land area o ...
, the largest
emirate
An emirate is a territory ruled by an emir, a title used by monarchs or high officeholders in the Muslim world. From a historical point of view, an emirate is a political-religious unit smaller than a caliphate. It can be considered equivalen ...
of the
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (Middle East, The Middle East). It is ...
and the home of the country's capital city.
Organized in 2005 by the UAE's president
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the department is responsible primarily for the management and administration of the emirate's public schools. Additionally, it issues licenses, monitors, and inspects the emirate's many different private schools. Since 2009, it has implemented its New School Model, a project to improve teaching standards in the emirate by increasing the quality of teaching, curriculum, and administration. As part of the New School Model, the department has recruited thousands of licensed teachers from native English speaking countries, such as the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
,
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...
,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...
,
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island coun ...
, and
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring coun ...
.
Organisation
Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, is the sitting chairman. Below him is the Director General, Dr. Mugheer al Khalili, who has administered the department since 2005.
It governs public schools, private schools, and higher education in the
Abu Dhabi emirate. These three tiers are divided into three educational zones. Abu Dhabi zone includes the capital city and the surrounding coastal areas, ending its authority near Al Khatim, halfway between Al Ain and Abu Dhabi, and the
Dubai
Dubai (, ; ar, wikt:دبي, دبي, translit=Dubayy, , ) is the List of cities in the United Arab Emirates#Major cities, most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, the most populated of the 7 ...
-Abu Dhabi border. The
Al Ain
Al Ain ( ar, ٱلْعَيْن, , ) is a city in the western side of Tuwwam region and the seat of the administrative division of its namesake, Al Ain in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It is bordered to the east by the Omani ...
zone includes Al Ain city and all schools north of Al Ain until the Abu Dhabi emirate-Dubai border, all schools south of Al Ain to
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the second-largest in the Ara ...
, and all schools west of Al Ain until Al Khatim on the Al Ain-Abu Dhabi road. Finally, the Western Zone, known as al Gharbia, is the largest by territory but smallest by population. It includes all schools in Abu Dhabi's western region, including some schools on outlying islands.
The public school system is divided into three cycles. Cycle 1 is made up of grades 1-5, Cycle 2 of grade 6-9, and Cycle 3 of grades 10-12. All public schools are segregated by sex, except in cycle one. Curriculum from grades 1-9 is currently the New School Model. The curriculum is implemented to varying degrees in Cycle 3, with the exception of grade 12, where students continue to be given examinations based on the federal Ministry of Education's requirements. The emirate currently has 265 public schools.
Private schools must abide by the department's governing rules and guidelines and are inspected once a year. However, they may operate using any approved curriculum they choose, including the United States, Canada, Pakistan, France, and the United Kingdom. There are 185 private schools in the emirate.
Higher education in the emirate also falls under the department's authority. There are 18 higher education institutions.
Criticism and controversy
In September 2012, apartments provided by the department suffered a courtyard collapse, rendering the site unsafe for several months. Staff were evacuated to new accommodations.
Local newspapers routinely report high instances of cheating in public schools and universities under the department's supervision. No program yet exists to address academic dishonesty.
Students are reported to have assaulted staff members, including teachers, without police action or administrative involvement from ADEK.
The government-owned English-language newspaper ''
The National'' wrote about poor student behavior as a factor into why some newly arrived teachers left the country without completing their contracts.
Administrative competence in public schools is reported to be low, interfering routinely with school operations.
See also
References
External links
* , the agency's official website
{{Coord, 24.430061, N, 54.464491, E, display=title
2005 establishments in the United Arab Emirates
Education in Abu Dhabi
Educational organisations based in the United Arab Emirates
Government agencies of Abu Dhabi
Government agencies established in 2005
Educational institutions established in 2005
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi (, ; ar, أَبُو ظَبْيٍ ' ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in the United Arab Emirates, second-most populous city (after Dubai) of the United Arab Emirates. It is also the capital of the Emirate of Abu Dha ...