Abu Dhabi schools: What to know about Irtiqaa ratings and fee increase

Abu Dhabi schools: What to know about Irtiqaa ratings and fee increase

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi this week announced fee hikes across its private schools, with the amount of the increase depending on the school’s overall inspection or Irtiqaa ranking. A total of 11 schools achieved a rating of Outstanding, which allows them to hike fees for the upcoming academic year by up to 3.94 per cent. Among these schools, 10 offer the British curriculum, whereas one offers the International Baccalaureate curriculum. Fees at the various schools, ahead of the upcoming hikes, range between Dh23,000 to Dh96,333. Another 37 schools have been ranked Very Good, and are eligible to increase fees by up to 3.38 per cent. Fee hikes have also been permitted at lower-rated schools by the emirate’s education regulator, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek), following a three-year pause in fee hikes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 85 schools were rated Good and can now raise fees by 2.81 per cent, whereas the 63 schools rated Acceptable and one school rated Weak can increase fees by 2.25 per cent. Criteria The annual Irtiqaa inspections follow the UAE Unified School Inspection Framework and cover six performance standards: students’ achievement; students’ personal and social development and their