ADEC's 1st private education investment forum attracts hundreds of operators and investors

The event, which took place today at the Fairmont Bab El Bahr Hotel in Abu Dhabi, familiarized potential investors and operators on ADEC's Private Schools & Quality Assurance (PSQA) Sector's mission to help provide high quality and affordable schooling options for families who wish to enroll their children in private schools.

The forum has also helped strengthen communication between investors, operators and ADEC as well as helped familiarize attendees with future development potentials for the private school sector.

The event is also expected to attract new investors and operators to deliver high quality education across private schools.

As part of PSQA's oversight and management of Abu Dhabi private school market, the sector focuses on attracting and expanding private schools while supporting the improvement of existing private schools.

This is done through five dedicated divisions, namely: Policy, Planning and Performance Management, Licensing and Accreditation, Inspection and Monitoring, Business Development and School Improvement.

"As part of Abu Dhabi's economic 2030 vision to help create a knowledge-based economy, we must equip our students with a world-class educational system. ADEC oversees, regulates and encourages development in all education sectors, including public and private P-12 education, as well as higher education. For that reason, fostering a strong private education sector that helps attract the right caliber of institutional investors and education providers is one of ADEC's key priority areas," said H.E. Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Director General, ADEC.

There are currently 185 private schools following 15 different curricula's across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, with approximately 198,000 pupils. According to PSQA predication reports, there will be 15,000 student seats required on yearly basis on top of 24,043 for villa schools replacement.

"The private school population has grown by 7% annually over the past 6 years. By 2020, students in private schools are expected to reach 280,000 with an annual growth of 5%. That is why ADEC is keen on attracting qualified and serious investors and operators who will help build a sustainable and solid school system," said Engineer Hamad Al Dhaheri, ADEC's PSQA Executive Director.

The private schools sector caters for up to 60% of the total student population across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi with approximately one quarter of the total student population Emirati students. With such a large student population, the development of a quality private education system is a crucial foundation required to help achieve Abu Dhabi's Economic Vision 2030.

"In ADEC's keenness to foster a large and empowered private education sector, private schools are required to attract experienced and talented teachers to develop a world-class education system that will help prepare students to meet future workforce demands," said Dr. Al Khaili.

In their aim to lay out a comprehensive roadmap with implementation milestones that will provide clarity and direction to stakeholders in private P12 education, ADEC's private school sector focuses on three core elements. Quality: which focuses on student performance, effective teaching and school leadership; accessibility: includes increasing access to private schools through ensuring adequate capacity in the market and affordability: making affordable quality options available for all students.

"Private schools are expected to be equipped with knowledge, skills and values as part of ADEC's mission to be recognized as a world class private education P12 system. Our mission is to prepare students in private schools to compete in a globally competitive market environment while receiving affordable high quality education options," concluded H.E. Dr. Al Khaili.