Education |
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Fifty years ago, there were no public schools in the UAE, only religious educational centres, both for boys and girls. Now, the schooling system is developed and government schools, with Arabic as their main medium of instruction, are available to all residents’ children. There are also numerous private schools, which offer education at all levels.
Primary education is compulsory in the UAE for children of all nationalities. The existing educational structure provides a system of schools that includes: kindergarten (ages 4-5); primary school (ages 6-12); preparatory school (ages 12-15); secondary school (ages 15-18); and technical secondary schools (ages 12-18). A range of colleges, universities, and higher degree schools are available in the UAE for those interested in further studies. Government schools (where lessons are mainly given in Arabic), government colleges and universities are free for nationals. However, all the expatriate children have to pay a fee to enrol in these schools.
Children of expatriates usually attend private international schools that offer different curricula, for example British, international, Indian, Pakistan or American. All those schools in the UAE must be licensed by the Educational Department. Arabic language tuition is obligatory to all children regardless the nationality. Most schools require uniforms. You will be given details when you register, but most uniforms resemble that worn in English schools.
Academic feesdiffer from school to school, but as a rule, the higher the grade the higher the fee. For example, annual fees for the Ras Al Khaimah English Speaking School (RAKESS) start from around 12,000dhs for kindergarten up to 26,500dhs for grade 12. Usually, there are also additional costs for transportation, registration, exam fees and amenities charges.
Lessons are given from Sunday to Thursday, while Fridays and Saturdays are off. This schedule applies to all private and governmental schools. There are two major holiday breaks, one in the summer and one in the winter. Children are also free off school during national and Islamic holidays.
In order to register your child at a school in Ras Al Khaimah, you have to provide certain documents, such as completed registration form, copies of your child’s passport with valid residence visa, several passport photographs and a birth certificate. The next step is to pay the registration fee. In case you transfer your child and he/she is over the age of 5, you are additionally required to present the transfer certificates and full assessment details from the previous school.
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NOTE: for more information about education and schools in the UAE go to the Federal Education Department’s website: www.moe.gov.ae
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