KHDA announces new guide for governing bodies
Dubai, 12 June, 2018: A new guide for schools in Dubai launched by Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) calls on school governing boards to engage better with the community. Identifying eight key features of effective governing boards, the guide provides schools with a better understanding of what constitutes best practices in school governance.
Over 200 school principals, school leaders and governors attended a launch event hosted at KHDA to announce the latest guide titled, ‘The Gift of Good Governance.’
The guide says, “A school governing board acts as a critical friend to the school, challenging the status quo and setting expectations. Effective school boards develop and implement policies and practices that suit their specific operating context.”
Providing insights from a broad spectrum of education experts, the 42-page guide shares best practices and examples from private schools in Dubai.
Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and director-general of KHDA said: “Governance plays a key role in schools and our research shows that the best governors have regular interaction with their school community. This guide is an effort to showcase the positive experiences that can shape the future of our schools.”
The guide provides investors and school operators with answers to their questions and provides a reference to develop better links between school management and governing bodies. It also presents a set of questions that are designed to help schools think and encourage greater dialogues.
The guide adds, “Governing boards set targets, formulate school policy and plan for future development. They create a framework to ensure a school is running effectively and that the budget is spent appropriately. In addition to their four core functions, good governing boards ensure that their schools’ ethos aligns with Dubai Vision 2021 and UAE law, promotes mutual respect and tolerance, and that these are reflected and implemented in both policy and practice.
To read the full guide, please visit www.khda.gov.ae/en/publications
Source: KHDA