Federal Decree-Law No. (10) of 2023 Amending Some Provisions of Federal Decree-Law No. (18) of 2020
on Private Education
We, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates,
- Having reviewed the Constitution,
- And Federal Law No. (1) of 1972 on the Competencies of Ministries and Powers of Ministers and its amendments,
- And Federal Decree-Law No. (18) of 2020 on Private Education,
- And based on the proposal of the Minister of Education and the approval of the Cabinet,
We have issued the following Decree-Law:
Article One
The following definitions shall be added to the definitions provided in Article (1) of the aforementioned Federal Decree-Law No. (18) of 2020:
The Agency: The Federal Agency for Early Education established by Federal Decree-Law No. (43) of 2022 on the Establishment of the Federal Agency for Early Education.
The Center: The National Center for Education Quality established by Federal Decree-Law No. (44) of 2022 on the Establishment of the National Center for Education Quality.
Early Education Stage: An educational stage that begins when a child reaches the age of (4) four Gregorian years until the age of (10) ten Gregorian years.
Article Two
The texts of Articles (5), (11), (14), (25), and (26) of the aforementioned Federal Decree-Law No. (18) of 2020 shall be replaced by the following texts:
Article: (5)
Licensing
1. It is prohibited for any natural or legal person to operate any private school without first obtaining the necessary license.
2. The Ministry or the Educational Authority shall be competent to license private schools whose educational stages include the Early Education Stage.
3. The Agency or the Educational Authority shall be competent to license private schools that are limited to the Early Education Stage.
4. For the purpose of licensing the private schools mentioned in clauses (2) and (3) of this Article, the Ministry and the Educational Authority must observe all regulations, standards, and requirements set by the Agency, including educational, administrative, health, and environmental requirements, and security and safety regulations and requirements for buildings, transportation, materials used in making tools, furniture, toys, and devices for child care and education services.
Article: (11)
Obligations of the Private School
Private schools must adhere to the following:
1. Appoint qualified teachers and administrative and technical staff in accordance with the regulations specified by the Executive Regulations of this Decree-Law.
2. Ensure that school staff and leadership obtain professional licenses in accordance with the regulations specified by the Executive Regulations of this Decree-Law.
3. All employees must have a good reputation, and none should have been previously convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor affecting honor or integrity, unless they have been rehabilitated.
4. Provide all educational, pedagogical, administrative, health, environmental, and security and safety requirements within its premises.
5. Manage the private school and its facilities in accordance with the instructions and guidelines specified by the Executive Regulations of this Decree-Law.
6. Maintain academic quality in accordance with the standards and regulations specified by the Executive Regulations of this Decree-Law.
7. Comply with the provisions of the approved National Compliance Framework and the approved National Education Quality Framework.
8. Submit an annual report to the Ministry, the Agency, or the Educational Authority on its academic, financial, and administrative status.
9. Provide the Ministry, the Agency, the Center, or the Educational Authority with any information or data they request.
10. Allow authorized employees of the Ministry, the Agency, the Center, or the Educational Authority to enter the private school to conduct auditing, evaluation, and supervision of its facilities and operations by reviewing records, documents, and papers.
11. Not to change the private school's name, address, partners, building, facilities, curriculum, or make any substantial modification to its activities without obtaining the approval of the Ministry, the Agency, or the Educational Authority.
12. Not to use the private school and its facilities for purposes other than those for which it is licensed, or to conduct any other additional activities or unlicensed training courses, without obtaining the approval of the Ministry, the Agency, or the Educational Authority.
13. Obtain the approval of the Ministry, the Agency, or the Educational Authority before organizing any field trips, official visits to the school, or inviting external speakers.
14. Establish records and files for students and employees in accordance with what is specified by the Executive Regulations of this Decree-Law.
15. Uphold Islamic and Arab principles and values, public order and morals, and the values and traditions of the State.
16. Respect national identity and sovereignty.
17. Play the national anthem and raise the State's flag exclusively.
18. Not to display pictures or portraits of figures or symbols other than the State's leadership.
19. Not to hold lectures or seminars that are unrelated to the educational process.
20. Any other obligations determined by the Ministry, the Agency, or the Educational Authority by virtue of decisions issued by them.
Article: (14)
Educational Curriculum
1. Upon licensing, a private school is authorized to apply only one educational curriculum, and another curriculum may be added after obtaining the approval of the Ministry, the Agency, or the Educational Authority.
2. The Ministry or the Educational Authority shall be responsible for approving the educational curricula for private schools whose educational stages include the Early Education Stage.
3. The Agency or the Educational Authority shall be responsible for approving the educational curricula for private schools that are limited to the Early Education Stage.
4. The Ministry and the Educational Authority must observe all standards and requirements set by the Agency for the purpose of approving educational curricula for the Early Education Stage.
5. A private school is prohibited from teaching any educational curriculum that violates or exceeds the scope of the license without first obtaining the approval of the Ministry, the Agency, or the Educational Authority.
6. A private school that applies the Ministry's curriculum must comply with the regulations and standards applicable to public schools.
7. A private school that applies an educational curriculum other than the Ministry's curriculum must include the subjects of Islamic Education, Arabic Language, Social Studies, National Education, and Moral Education as approved by the Ministry in its curricula. In all cases, all curricula are prohibited from containing any violation of the State's laws, society's culture, its Islamic and social values, national constants, or anything that promotes violence, racism, or incites discord and sedition among members of society.
8. A private school must adhere to the guidelines and instructions issued by the Ministry, the Agency, or the Educational Authority regarding educational series and other educational resources.
9. A private school must obtain accreditations from specialized international boards for the purpose of approving the application of the educational curriculum, as specified by the Executive Regulations of this Decree-Law.
Article: (25)
School Compliance
1. The Ministry or the Educational Authority shall supervise the extent of compliance of private schools whose educational stages include the Early Education Stage, in accordance with the approved National Compliance Framework.
2. The Agency or the Educational Authority shall supervise the extent of compliance of private schools that are limited to the Early Education Stage, in accordance with the approved National Compliance Framework.
Article: (26)
Evaluation and Supervision
1. The Center shall develop the National Framework for Education Quality Assessment, which includes unified standards and controls for evaluating the performance quality of private schools, in coordination with the Ministry, the Agency, and the Educational Authority.
2. The Center or the Educational Authority shall carry out the processes of evaluation and supervision of education quality in private schools in accordance with the approved National Framework for Education Quality Assessment.
3. The Educational Authority must provide the Center with the results of the education quality assessment of private schools.
4. The Center shall issue an annual report on the results of the education quality assessment in private schools, and work to publish and make them available within the Center's database.
Article Three
A new article, numbered (10) bis, shall be added to the aforementioned Federal Decree-Law No. (18) of 2020, with the following text:
Article (10) bis
Exchange of Licensing Data
1. The Educational Authority must provide the Ministry with all licenses it issues to private schools.
2. The Educational Authority must provide the Agency with all licenses it issues to private schools that are limited to the Early Education Stage.
3. The Ministry and the Educational Authority must provide the Agency with all licenses they issue to private schools whose educational stages include the Early Education Stage.
4. The Educational Authority must observe the regulations related to electronic linking concerning the sharing of licensing data it issues with both the Ministry and the Agency, in accordance with what is specified by the Executive Regulations of this Decree-Law.
Article Four
The Cabinet may assign the Ministry to exercise the competencies of the Agency as stated in this Decree-Law or any other legislation until the Agency fully commences its operational activities, and a decision to terminate this assignment shall be issued by the Cabinet.
Article Five
Any provision that violates or contradicts the provisions of this Decree-Law shall be repealed.
Article Six
This Decree-Law shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall come into effect on the day following the date of its publication.
Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
President of the United Arab Emirates
Issued by us at the Presidential Palace - Abu Dhabi -:
On: 18 / Safar / 1445 H
Corresponding to: 4 / September / 2023 AD
Related Legislation
Federal Decree-Law No. (42) of 2024 on the Establishment and Organization of the Education, Human and Social Development Council
Article (Six/1) of Federal Decree-Law No. (28) of 2024 stipulated: "The Ministry of Education shall replace the Emirates Schools Establishment and the Federal Agency for Early Education in all legislation related to the competencies outlined in Article One of this Decree-Law, and in all rights and obligations, including the rights and obligations contained in contracts, agreements, or memoranda of understanding concluded by the Establishment or the Agency.".