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Abu Dhabi Education Council

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Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC)

The Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) is the educational authority for the emirate of Abu Dhabi which includes the city of Al Ain, and towns in the Western Region (or Al Gharbiya). From January 2008, ADEC became the supervising body of the Abu Dhabi Educational Zone (ADEZ), taking over the role from the UAE Ministry of Education.

ADEC school accreditation in Abu Dhabi (22 March 2011 update)

New (?) accreditation policy for private schools (non-government schools) in Abu Dhabi announced by ADEC 22 March 2011 (WAM news report).

Board of Trustees and sub-committee requirements for accreditation
ADEC Abu Dhabi school accreditation (2010 information)
Abu Dhabi Future Schools program
List of Abu Dhabi Future Schools (not complete)
School name Location1 Construction Dates Consultants Design Construction Grades Capacity Area   Notes
    Start Finish         Students sq m    
Abu Dhabi Island Kindergarten AUH Jan 2011 Sep 2011 Dewan3   Amana4 KG 360 5,000    
Al Jahili Girls School Al Jahili, AAN   2012? Dewan3 Dewan3 Sammon6 G10-12 1,500 20,302    
Al Khatem School Al Khatem, AUH   2012? Broadway5 Broadway5 Sammon6 KG-G12 600 11,842    
Al Mabade School Al Khazna, AAN   2012? Broadway5 Broadway5 Sammon6   700 12,877    
Al Rahba Kindergarten AUH? Jan 2011 Sep 2011 Dewan3   Amana4 KG 360 5,000    
Al Shawamekh Kindergarten AUH? Jan 2011 Sep 2011 Dewan3   Amana4 KG 360 5,000    
Maryam Bint Sultan School Al Towayya, AAN   2012? Dewan3 Dewan3 Sammon6 G10-12 1,5002 17,040    
Mubarak Bin Mohammed School Al Bateen, AUH   2012? Broadway5 Broadway5 Sammon6 KG-G4 1,5002 18,133    
  1. AUH - Abu Dhabi city, AAN - Al Ain city. Capacities are approximate.
  2. Capacity 1,225-1,500 students
  3. Dewan Architects and Engineers
  4. Amana Contracting and Steel Buildings (Amana Group)?
  5. Broadway Malyan - Planar
  6. Sammon Group
New School Model Abu Dhabi (NSM) - press release 13 September 2010
Abu Dhabi school fee increases
Abu Dhabi school and education reform with ADEC
ADEC Abu Dhabi school inspections
ADEC Abu Dhabi school finder (press release 27 July 2010)
ADEC statistics and number of schools in Abu Dhabi (as of 03 June 2010)
Area Private Schools Students Public Schools Students Comments
Abu Dhabi emirate 185 165,000 305    
Abu Dhabi city 120 112,000      
Al Ain 58 48,400      
Western Region / Al Gharbiah 7 4,554      
ADEC new private schools
ADEC new public (government) schools 2010-2011 (press release 04 August 2010)

ADEC will open 11 new schools and kindergartens, and integrate 20 schools for the 2010-2011 academic year as part of the ADEC 10 Year Strategic Plan as follows:

Abu Dhabi Education Zone schools

Al Ain Education Zone schools

Al Gharbia schools (Western Region Educational Zone)

Three new schools opening at start of 2010-2011 academic year, two more new schools opening at the beginning of the second semester for 2009-2010. Ten schools to be combined into 5 new school buildings as follows:

Equivalent class/grades in English-medium private school systems for pupil placement
Academic Year 2009-2010 (ADEC information)
Age Date of Birth DOB England Scotland¹ USA Australia² India South Africa² Singapore²
  From To              
3-4 01 Sep 2005 31 Aug 2006 F1/FS1 Nursery Pre-school Pre-school KG 1 Pre-school Nursery
4-5 01 Sep 2004 31 Aug 2005 F2/FS2 Nursery Pre-school Pre-school KG 2 Pre-school KG1
5-6 01 Sep 2003 31 Aug 2004 Year 1 Primary 1 KG KG Standard 1 Grade 0 KG2
6-7 01 Sep 2002 31 Aug 2003 Year 2 Primary 2 Grade 1 Grade 1 Standard 2 Grade 1 Primary 1
7-8 01 Sep 2001 31 Aug 2002 Year 3 Primary 3 Grade 2 Grade 2 Standard 3 Grade 2 Primary 2
8-9 01 Sep 2000 31 Aug 2001 Year 4 Primary 4 Grade 3 Grade 3 Standard 4 Grade 3 Primary 3
9-10 01 Sep 1999 31 Aug 2000 Year 5 Primary 5 Grade 4 Grade 4 Standard 5 Grade 4 Primary 4
10-11 01 Sep 1998 31 Aug 1999 Year 6 Primary 6 Grade 5 Grade 5 Standard 6 Grade 5 Primary 5
11-12 01 Sep 1997 31 Aug 1998 Year 7 Primary 7 Grade 6 Grade 6 Standard 7 Grade 6 Primary 6
12-13 01 Sep 1996 31 Aug 1997 Year 8 Senior 1 Grade 7 Grade 7 Standard 8 Grade 7 Secondary 1
13-14 01 Sep 1995 31 Aug 1996 Year 9 Senior 2 Grade 8 Grade 8 Standard 9 Grade 8 Secondary 2
14-15 01 Sep 1994 31 Aug 1995 Year 10 Senior 3 Grade 9 Grade 9 Standard 10 Grade 9 Secondary 3
15-16 01 Sep 1993 31 Aug 1994 Year 11 Senior 4 Grade 10 Grade 10 Higher 1 Grade 10 Secondary 4
16-17 01 Sep 1992 31 Aug 1993 Year 12 Senior 5 Grade 11 Grade 11 Higher 2 Grade 11 High School 1
17-18 01 Sep 1991 31 Aug 1992 Year 13 Senior 6 Grade 12 Grade 12   Grade 12 High School 2
  1. Mid-year cut-off date is end of February, not August
  2. School year runs from January to November. Australia only according to ADEC information but presumably applies to NZ and South Africa also as they are also in the Southern Hemisphere. Also Singapore even though it is in the Northern Hemisphere (only just)?

According to ADEC: "Placement into the age-appropriate equivalency is conditional on successful completion of the academic year, authenticated by a school transfer certificate or official letter. Any requests to place children outside the age framework on this chart must be formally approved by ADEC and be accompanied by a formal assessment, by the school, in English and Maths (for all pupils) and Arabic and Islamic Studies (for native speakers only), demonstrating age and stage equivalency."

There is an appeals procedure if a parent or guardian does not agree with the level that their child has been placed in.

  1. Appeal to the school directly using the school's internal complaints procedure. If the outcome is not satisfactory, then
  2. Lodge an appeal with the ADEC Licensing and Accreditation Division Manager. The ADEC Assessment Committee will review the appeal and notify the applicant within 21 days. Documents to be submitted include:
    • A one-page summary of the reasons for the appeal
    • The outcome of the initial application to the school
    • Evidence in support of the reasons for the appeal
ADEC Higher Education Scholarships for UAE Nationals

Talented Scholar Program (01 August 2010 press release)

Other ADEC internships and scholarship programs include:

Contact ADEC for more information about internship and scholarship programs. Tel +971-2-6150370, email scholarships@adec.ac.ae, or visit the ADEC website for application forms and information.

ADEC 10 year strategic plan (2009-2018)

On 29 June 2009, ADEC announced a 10 year strategic plan from 2009 to 2018 to improve the education system in the Abu Dhabi emirate, targeted at government schools and private schools running a UAE curriculum. Key points are (based on ADEC press release 29 June 2009)

ADEC Higher Education 10 Year Strategic Plan 2010-2019
ADEC P-12 Executive Committee
ADEC personnel
ADEC contact details
Last update Friday 27-Feb-2015
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www.dubaifaqs.com/abu-dhabi-education-council.php (PDF and print version).

Abu Dhabi AUH ABD ADB, Ajman AJM, Al Ain AAN, Dubai DXB, Fujairah FUJ, Ras Al Khaimah RAK, Sharjah SHJ, Umm Al Quwain UAQ

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