‘Private schools must admit differently-abled’

Emad Al Deen Khalil, Staff Reporter

The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has set certain requirements for enrolling students in private schools in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, in accordance with the policies and procedures for enrolling students to ensure that every student gets an appropriate education.

Among these requirements is that schools shall admit students of determination (mild to moderate cases) and offer additional appropriate learning support as required or needed.

Schools may test students of determination (mild to moderate cases) may require the student to take certain placement tests to be able to provide proper educational and psychological support and not for the purpose of accepting or rejecting a student.

The ADEK asserted its keenness to provide a high quality educational system in the emirate that promotes innovation and excellence, and contributes to empowering students to face future challenges through programmes, initiatives and regulations that improve the educational process and its outputs from kindergarten to high school.

The main requirements that need to be taken into account when applying at any private school in Abu Dhabi are that all students are entitled to apply in any private school regardless of their race, ethnicity or gender. Prospective parents/guardians are allowed to visit the school prior to registration.

Schools shall re-register current students for the following school year if the parent/guardian so wishes, unless there is a behavioural problem that justifies refusal. Schools shall admit students with chronic health conditions (such as diabetes, asthma, congenital heart disease, epilepsy and obesity) and must offer appropriate support as per the student’s needs.

It has also indicates that regarding the interviews and placement tests, schools must admit students into their kindergarten stage (KG1 or KG2) without requiring the students to sit for any form of tests or interviews.

Schools may conduct an interview with a student during the mandatory education stage (from first grade until twelfth grade), may require the student to take certain placement tests to give an indication of their performance level(s) to be able to provide proper learning support and not for the purpose of accepting or rejecting a student, added the ADEK.