Number of Indian and Pakistani pupils in Dubai is up 1%

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) says that the number of enrolled students in the Indian and Pakistani schools for the academic year 2009-2010 has reached 56,346, which is one third of the number of students in private schools in Dubai.

In the last academic year there were 55,675 students, so there has been an increase of 1% for this year.

KHDA, which regulates all schools - public and private - in Dubai, says there are 24 schools following the Indian and Pakistani curriculum in Dubai. One small villa school, which followed the Indian curriculum, was closed this year. A larger Indian curriculum school was approved license and opened.

Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Director General at KHDA, said:

"KHDA insists always on providing accurate and documented information to the public supported by statistics of actual data from the education sector."

"Numbers are always the most trusted source of information, especially when they are based on statistics of the current academic year," he added.

Dr Al Karam explained that KHDA had avoided any announcement about the status of the schools following the Indian and Pakistani curriculums before the beginning of their academic year in April 2009 because of its commitment to providing facts based on scientific approach.

Dr Al Karam said, "Dubai is working on the establishment of an integrated educational system to attract global and Arab talent, people who are looking for better opportunities for their life."

"KHDA is working hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Education, to evolve the whole schools system so that it can enhance the position of Dubai as a centre of knowledge and of the most important international and regional educational institutions. These will be able to provide an outstanding quality of education for both Nationals and residents," he concluded.