Abu Dhabi to Welcome 2,000 Emirati Teachers to Private Schools in Five-Year Education Initiative

Abu Dhabi has announced an ambitious plan to recruit 2,000 Emirati teachers for private schools over the next five years, marking a significant effort to promote local talent within the education sector. This initiative, known as the Emiratisation Policy for Private Education, aims to equip a new generation of Emirati educators with the necessary training and qualifications to take on leadership roles in shaping future learners. The program is a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Human Resources, the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (Nafis), and prominent private education providers including Gems Education, Taleem, Sabis, International Community Schools, and Liwa Education.

Under this expansion of the government's Emiratisation strategy, private schools in the capital will be assigned specific recruitment targets for teaching positions. The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek) stated that these plans will complement existing Emiratisation goals by focusing specifically on increasing Emirati representation in classrooms, rather than administrative roles.

The initiative will initially concentrate on filling positions in Social Studies, Arabic, and Islamic Studies, with a phased recruitment and integration process planned over the next five years.

Teacher Training Program:

To ensure a steady supply of qualified Emirati teachers, Adek is partnering with Emirates College of Advanced Education to establish a teaching program. This program will offer specialized training, practical classroom experience, and direct employment opportunities within the private education sector. It is accessible to Emirati job seekers and individuals looking to transition into teaching careers, provided they meet the eligibility criteria. Two distinct pathways for teachers and teaching assistants will be available, offering flexible entry points for Emirati talent at various qualification levels.

Through the Nafis program, established in September 2021 with the goal of having 10% of skilled jobs in private companies filled by citizens by the end of 2026, participants in this teacher training initiative will be eligible for monthly financial incentives of up to AED4,000 during their training period.

Making the Grade:

This policy will provide private schools with access to a pool of national talent and will offer funded qualification pathways, practical school-based training, and structured employment routes. Private schools are already demonstrating progress in integrating Emirati employees into their teaching staff. Adek previously signed an agreement with Aldar Education in May to create over 300 opportunities for Emirati teachers. Further strategic partnerships have been formed with Sabis, Taaleem, GEMS Education, International Community Schools, and Liwa Education. Taaleem has committed to hiring over 200 Emirati educators, Sabis over 150, and Gems Education over 120. International Community Schools and Liwa Education have pledged to create teaching positions for at least 77 and 61 Emiratis, respectively.

Emiratisation Plans Take Shape:

Employers in the UAE with 50 or more staff, including schools, are mandated to increase their Emirati workforce by 1% every six months, aiming for a 10% target by the end of the current year, with penalties for non-compliance. This initiative has been instrumental in encouraging citizens, who traditionally favored public sector employment, to join the private sector. Government data from July indicated that over 190,000 Emiratis are employed by 32,000 private sector companies. In April, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, announced an extension of the Emiratisation strategy until 2040, along with enhancements such as expanded children's allowances for Emiratis and the introduction of salary support programs for children of Emirati women and wives of citizens working in the private sector.