Education

UAE: Schools ban phones, ask parents to sign pledges for student discipline

Published

1 year ago

May 7, 2025

Spread the love

Public and private schools across Abu Dhabi have begun strictly enforcing a complete ban on mobile phones, smartwatches, and other electronic devices on school premises, citing student safety, discipline, and privacy concerns.

The move aligns with Ministerial Resolution No. 851 of 2018 on Student Behaviour Management Regulations and is described by school authorities as “final and non-negotiable.” Devices found in students’ possession will be confiscated, with return only at the end of the term, or later in repeat cases.

Parents and Students Must Sign Pledge

To reinforce the policy, schools are requiring both parents and students to sign an official pledge agreeing not to bring smart devices to school. Disciplinary action will apply without exception, administrators confirmed.

What’s Banned and What Happens if You Break the Rules

Banned Devices: Mobile phones, smartwatches, gaming devices, and cameras (unless approved in advance)
First Offence: Phone confiscated for one month
Repeated Offences: Confiscation until the academic year ends
If Photos/Videos Are Found: The Case is referred to the Child Protection Unit

Parents will also be required to sign official Form 24 upon confiscation and Form 25 upon return of the device.

Why the Ban?

In circulars to parents, schools cited the psychological impact of phone addiction, including mood changes, reduced attention, and social isolation. They also pointed to issues such as:

Disruption of the learning process
Negative impact on academic performance
Increased risk of bullying
Violation of others’ privacy

Schools are encouraging students to use laptops or tablets for educational purposes instead, and have advised students to record key login details for academic portals in notebooks, eliminating the need for phones.

Penalties and Parent Involvement

In addition to device confiscation, penalties for violating the rule may include:

Exclusion from extracurricular activities
Ineligibility for school trips

Parents are also urged to support these efforts by encouraging positive behaviour, attending awareness sessions, and reinforcing school values at home.

School leaders say these measures are part of broader efforts to build a disciplined, distraction-free learning environment that supports academic success and student well-being.

Related Topics:abudhabischools discipline fines ministryresolution mobileban privateschools publicschools smartwatchban students uaeschools

Michael Gomes

With over 35 years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and PR, Michael Gomes is a seasoned media professional deeply rooted in the UAE’s print and digital landscape.

Education

Need a school fee certificate? Abu Dhabi families can now get it online in minutes

Published

2 days ago

July 20, 2026

Michael Gomes

Spread the love

Parents and students in Abu Dhabi can now obtain an officially attested private school fee certificate in just six minutes through the TAMM government services platform, making the process quicker and more convenient than ever.

The fully digital service allows users to request and receive a certified tuition fee certificate without uploading any supporting documents. This certificate is commonly required for government procedures, financial aid requests, scholarship applications, and other official purposes.

Applying is simple and can be completed entirely online. Users need to sign in using their UAE PASS account, submit the application, pay the Dh15 service fee electronically, and download the certified digital certificate once it is issued.

By moving the entire process online, TAMM helps families save time while providing fast access to an important document whenever it’s needed for official or financial requirements.

Education

Dubai’s KHDA launches new councils giving parents and teachers a voice

Published

1 month ago

June 8, 2026

Michael Gomes

Spread the love

Parents and teachers in Dubai will soon have a direct role in shaping the future of education, following the launch of two new advisory councils by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

Building on the success of the Dubai Students Council, KHDA has announced the creation of the Dubai Parents Council and Dubai Educators Council, both set to begin work at the start of the 2026-27 academic year.

Giving parents and teachers a voice

Each council will consist of 15 members selected through a transparent process and will serve as a formal platform for dialogue between the education community and regulators.

The initiative attracted strong interest, with KHDA receiving 152 applications for the Parents Council and 160 applications for the Educators Council, including submissions from Emirati parents and teachers across Dubai.

Supporting Dubai’s education vision

The new councils are designed to strengthen community participation in education and support the goals of Dubai’s Education 33 Strategy.

Members will have the opportunity to share ideas, highlight challenges and contribute recommendations on key issues affecting schools and early childhood centres across the emirate.

Focus on student success

The councils are expected to discuss a range of topics, including student wellbeing, inclusion, teaching quality, parental engagement and school-community partnerships.

KHDA said the move reflects its commitment to collaborative decision-making and aims to strengthen trust between families, educators and education authorities.

By formally including parents and teachers in the conversation, Dubai is taking another step towards creating a more inclusive and responsive education system that reflects the needs of its diverse school community.

Education

Dubai schools to receive surprise KHDA inspections§

Published

2 months ago

June 3, 2026

Michael Gomes

Spread the love

Dubai’s private schools will face short-notice inspections from the 2026-27 academic year under a revamped quality assurance framework announced by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

Under the new approach, schools will receive no more than 24 hours’ notice before inspectors arrive, marking a significant shift in how education quality is monitored across the emirate.

KHDA said the updated system will include two types of visits. Full inspections will be carried out by teams of specialist education experts, while shorter monitoring visits will focus on specific areas of school performance and quality assurance.

Return of formal inspection

The move signals the return of formal inspection activity after KHDA paused inspections during the 2025-26 academic year. At the time, the authority said the break would allow for greater collaboration with schools and a review of how educational quality is assessed and supported.

The new model aims to provide a more responsive and differentiated approach to evaluating schools, with visits designed to offer a clearer picture of day-to-day operations and educational standards.

Dubai’s private school sector serves hundreds of thousands of students across a wide range of international curricula, making quality assurance a key part of maintaining educational standards and supporting continuous improvement.

Further details on how the inspection and monitoring framework will operate are expected ahead of the 2026-27 academic year.