Requirements for Teacher Appointment in Dubai Private Schools

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is responsible for the growth and quality of private education in Dubai. Pursuant to its responsibility for quality, KHDA established requirements for teachers in Dubai’s private schools. The aim of these requirements is to safeguard and enhance the quality of teaching and learning in Dubai private schools.A basic requirement for enhancing quality in teaching and learning is for a teacher have appropriate qualifications. This requirement must be met by the teacher before an Initial Appointment is issued.The Initial Appointment allows a teacher to teach at a school. Thereafter, KHDA continues to enhance quality in teaching and learning by supporting teachers in meeting the requirements for the KHDA teacher registration on the Educator Permit System.?

Teacher Appointment

After a private school in Dubai selects a teacher for an available teaching position, the school applies for the Initial Appointment for the teacher. The Initial Appointment is needed to obtain a UAE work permit for the teacher.For the Initial Appointment, a teacher must have a degree in a particular field, depending on whether the teacher is a class teacher or subject teacher.

1. A class teacher?must have a recognised Bachelor Degree in Education [B.Ed] or postgraduate certificate/diploma in education or Master Degree in Education [M.Ed].
2. A subject teacher?must have a minimum of recognised bachelor degree relevant to the subject taught.

Upon receiving the Initial Appointment, the teacher at a Dubai private school is required to register on the Educator Permit System to complete the registration, a teacher must meet the requirements of:

1. Subject Qualification

The subject qualification required for the teacher registration is the same as the degree required for the Initial Appointment.

• A class teacher?must have a recognised Bachelor Degree in Education [B.Ed] or postgraduate certificate/diploma in education or Master Degree in Education [M.Ed].
• A subject teacher?must have a minimum of recognised bachelor degree relevant to the subject taught.

2. Teacher Preparation Qualification for Subject Teachers

A teacher must have a recognised teacher preparation qualification at the level of a higher diploma or above. Topics covered in the programme leading to the qualification should include:

• Educational Pedagogy
• Curriculum Development and Design
• Learning Assessment
• Classroom Management
• Educational Technology
• Psychology (cognitive, social and physical development)
• Teaching Practice ?

A teacher teaching English Language as a subject must additionally have a qualification in teaching English Language as a second or foreign language (e.g. CELTA, DELTA, TESOL).KHDA accepts teacher preparation qualifications offered by:

• Recognised international branch campus universities approved by KHDA?https://web.khda.gov.ae/en/Education-Directory/Higher-Education
• Recognised national universities approved by the UAE Ministry of Education?https://www.caa.ae/Pages/Institutes/All.aspx
• Recognised international universities/institutions approved in the home country
• KHDA-approved training providers of teacher preparation qualifications Click here ?for the list of approved providers.

3. Additional Qualification Requirements

A teacher teaching a vocational education programme must have a recognised assessor or verifier qualification.?

4. Language Proficiency

A teacher teaching English language as a subject must have an IELTS Band Score of at least 7 (IELTS “good user”) or equivalent. A teacher using English as the language of instruction must have an IELTS Band Score of at least 6 (IELTS “competent user”) or equivalent. A teacher teaching a language other than English must have evidence of language proficiency as specified by appropriate authorities and curricula.?

5. Legal Status

A teacher must have:

• a valid UAE residence visa
• a school contract or employment agreement

6. Fitness to Teach

A teacher must make a declaration of fitness to practice in the teaching profession.?

7. Good Standing

A teacher must have:

• a UAE police clearance certificate
• a letter from the school confirming the teacher is in good standing

Additionally, a teacher who has not resided continuously in the UAE for at least five years after arriving in the UAE must have:

• a police clearance certificate from each country of residence over the past five year

8. Mandatory Professional Development

A teacher must complete a set of mandatory professional development courses. The mandatory professional development courses are:

• Child Protection and Safe guarding
• Dealing with People of Determination
• Diversity
• Moral Education
• Sustainability
• Wellbeing ?

These courses will be reviewed periodically and, if needed, updated to align with current strategies and priorities of Dubai. The mandatory professional development courses are offered by KHDA-approved training providers and must be taken with these providers. Click here ?for the list of approved providers.

Reference - Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). (n.d.). Requirements for teacher appointment in Dubai private schools. Retrieved July 21, 2024, from https://web.khda.gov.ae/en/Guides/Educators/Requirements-for-Teacher-Appointment-in-Dubai-Priv