Abu Dhabi's private schools have stated their intention to look at other options before deciding to keep students, in line with rules that stress moving on to the next grade or, in extreme circumstances, starting over.
Commitment to Student Progression
After carefully considering eight important aspects, the Academic Review Committee (which includes the student's guardian) and the principal come to a consensus on whether or not to retain the student. Prominent among these factors is the possibility that the student's social and developmental well-being may suffer as a result of being isolated from their classmates.
Administrative Responsibility
Administrators Mustafa Gad, Nadine Othman, and Hala Al-Saadi underscored the schools' responsibility to ensure students' academic trajectory aligns with established guidelines. According to the Private School Policy Guide issued by the Department of Education and Knowledge, schools must develop clear policies outlining criteria for grade advancement or retention, tailored to each age group and academic stage. These policies must articulate transparent processes and standards used to determine whether a student should repeat a grade.
The mechanism for advancing students, as stipulated by departmental regulations, generally promotes progression for kindergarten and first-year students unless exceptional circumstances necessitate otherwise. For grades six to eleven, students are typically advanced to the next grade unless they fail to meet curriculum requirements, with restrictions on repeating grades more than twice consecutively or across different grades without adequate educational support.
For students following the Ministerial Curriculum, adherence to graduation requirements set by the Ministry of Education for twelfth grade students is mandatory. Other schools follow similar graduation criteria based on their respective approved curricula.
Social workers George Youssef, Bashir Karam, and Laila Amer highlighted schools' obligations to promptly inform parents if a student demonstrates inadequate progress during the academic year. In such cases, schools convene meetings with guardians to devise tailored solutions, incorporating educational supports and program modifications to bolster student performance. The decision to retain a student is deliberated by the Academic Review Committee, which includes teachers, social workers, and educational coordinators, ensuring a holistic assessment of factors influencing the student's educational journey.
Considerations include the social and developmental impacts of grade repetition, academic progress reports, the school's capacity to provide specialized educational support, and the student's historical academic performance and individualized educational needs. The committee's decision-making process prioritizes consensus among all stakeholders involved.
The Department of Education and Knowledge mandates that private schools document and report failure cases, outlining corrective measures taken and ensuring transparency with parents throughout the process. This includes maintaining comprehensive records within the student's educational file.
Regarding students of determination, the policy guide emphasizes that those who fulfill the objectives of their individualized educational plans should progress to the next stage appropriate for their age group. Grade retention for students of determination is permissible only when necessary adjustments to their educational plans are required to better align with their learning needs and goals.
