Dubai Chamber to create Private Schools Business Group focused on strengthening the educational sector

Group to work towards establishing city as the premier global knowledge economy hub

The Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry is in the process of forming a new business group representing private schools in Dubai. The proposed group will act as forum on key policy issues affecting the private schools sector focus on coordinating the efforts of the educational sector.

Currently under formation, Dubai Private Schools Group (DPSG) will work under the umbrella of Dubai Chamber with the objective of achieving the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to establish the city as a premier global knowledge economy hub.

The DPSG will attain this by ensuring the best-in-class international schools in the Emirate operate efficiently and effectively, while national curriculum schools catering for the budget segment of Dubai’s cosmopolitan population also operate cost-effectively and to high quality standard as an initiative from the private sector represented in this group.

The Group will streamline the private schools’ efforts towards the development of higher standards of education through various measures. With the majority of Dubai’s school students attending private schools, the proposed Group will provide an important forum for discussion on key policy issues that affect the private school sector.

His Excellency Eng. Hamad Buamim, Director General of the Dubai Chamber, said: “The Chamber will extend full support to achieving the objectives of the proposed Dubai Private Schools Group, as education is the cornerstone of any developed society. The Government of Dubai has allocated 22 per cent of the total budget in 2009, amounting to AED8.325 billion (US$2.3 billion), for the social sector including health and education. The Government accords highest priority to education, in which the private sector plays a critical role.”

“Upon formal inception, the Dubai Private Schools Group can streamline the growth of the educational sector by introducing and sharing global best practices.” he added.

The proposed Dubai Private Schools Group will join over 22 specialised business groups under the organisation, which are aimed at supporting Dubai’s growth goals. Dubai Chamber introduced the concept of focused business groups to facilitate networking of the various participants in a core business, and to provide them a platform to address their views and concerns to the respective government bodies, while helping collectively achieve the strategic vision of Dubai. Each group includes a number of companies and establishments that operate under the same economic sector.

Dubai has over 130 private schools with over 160,000 students and thousands of teaching and non-teaching staff members. The schools offer the full spectrum of educational options and cover all segments of the society. The schools meet the educational needs of the sizeable expatriate and National population in the Emirate.

Established in 1965, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry is a non-profit public entity, whose mission is to represent, support and protect the interests of the business community in Dubai by creating a favorable business environment, supporting the development of business, and by promoting Dubai as an international business hub.