Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
As the UAE prioritises early childhood development, Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has reported a notable 16 percent rise in private early childhood education enrolments for the 2023-24 academic year, driven by its reputation for high trust and quality education.
This increase is further enhanced by the launch of 25 new early childhood centres (ECCs), bringing the total number to 274 across the emirate. Among these, 243 centres operate year-round.
A total of 134 centres serve children of more than 20 nationalities, while one centre caters to children of 65 nationalities, according to data from the KHDA.
In terms of overall diversity, 54 percent of centres feature up to 20 nationalities, 38 percent have 21-40 nationalities, and eight percent include more than 41 nationalities.
Inclusive and Comprehensive Early Childhood Education Currently, 27,000 children are enrolled across these centres, including 2,574 Emirati children and 1,240 children of determination, reflecting Dubai's commitment to inclusive and comprehensive early childhood education.
Of the enrolled children, 35 percent are aged 2-3 years, 34 percent are 3-4 years old, 13 percent are 1-2 years old, and another 13 percent are 4-5 years old, according to enrolment data.
The enrolment incorporates two percent infants under one year old and three percent children in the 5-6 age bracket, highlighting the centres' capacity to address all stages of growth.
The KHDA said that high and regular attendance accentuates the value placed on early childhood education.
Approximately 97 percent of children attend their centres for at least three days a week, 86 percent for at least four days a week, and 79 percent for five days a week.
With a solid team of staff, 1,719 teachers and 2,565 teaching assistants working to provide education and support, the centres offer an extensive selection of curricula to serve their students.
Multilingualism and Multiculturalism The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the most prevalent curriculum, used by 215 centres, followed by 20 centres adopting the Montessori approach.
The US curriculum, International Preschool Curriculum (IPC), and different national curricula also contribute to the variety of educational methods available. The primary languages of instruction are Arabic, English, and French, while Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Hindi, and Urdu are also used to cater to Dubai's multicultural community.
This approach to multilingualism enhances learning and caters to the diverse language needs of the students, according to the KHDA.
The centres are located throughout Dubai, including in Jumeirah, Madinat Hind, Ras Al Khor, Madinat Mohammed Bin Rashid, Wadi Al Safa, Zaabeel, Deira, Mushrif, and Bur Dubai.
This broad distribution guarantees early childhood education is available to families across the emirate.
