A lack of digital skills prevents some UAE parents from accessing online school surveys, reducing their ability to share feedback, engage with schools, and contribute to decisions affecting their children’s education.
Digital Skills Gap Limits Some UAE Parents’ Engagement in School Surveys
Limited digital skills and busy schedules are preventing many parents in the UAE from taking part in school surveys, prompting concerns about whether schools are receiving a true picture of parental feedback.
Although schools now rely heavily on digital platforms to communicate with parents, regular participation remains a challenge for some. Badriya, a 30-year-old Dubai-based mother, said frequent and lengthy questionnaires often discourage her from responding. She explained that similar surveys are circulated multiple times throughout the year, even for children who are already enrolled.
While she finds the online systems manageable with support from teachers, she said work commitments and time constraints often stop her from completing the forms. Badriya added that digital illiteracy remains a significant barrier for many parents, especially those who struggle to open survey links or understand complex questions. She stressed the need for simpler surveys and clearer instructions from schools to encourage wider participation.
Volume and repetition
Parents in other emirates report facing similar challenges. Salama Ahmed, a 31-year-old resident of Ajman, said the sheer number of online surveys sent by schools, often with repeated questions, makes the process exhausting and discouraging. She explained that parents are frequently asked to complete identical forms for each child, including surveys related to school transport and parent–school agreements at the beginning of the academic year.
Salama added that the process usually requires logging in through students’ email accounts, and technical issues such as slow loading pages or system crashes often force parents to sign in repeatedly. With work and family responsibilities, she said finishing these surveys can stretch over several days, even as schools continue to send reminders through their communication platforms.
She also expressed concern about schools’ heavy dependence on automated digital systems, sharing an experience in which she received an alert claiming her child had missed eight classes, only to later learn it was a technical mistake. Incidents like these, she said, can cause undue stress and raise doubts about the reliability of digital alerts, particularly for sensitive issues such as attendance.
Education experts note that the problem is widespread among many private schools. Mahra Al Khayli, a specialist in parent–school communication, said findings from recent education and media reports indicate a clear drop in parental engagement with online surveys. “Parents are juggling many responsibilities and receive an overwhelming number of digital messages, which often results in surveys being ignored,” she said.
Make it inclusive and effective
Al Khayli explained that low response rates reduce the reliability of survey findings, as the feedback collected may not reflect the full range of parents’ views, making it difficult for schools to clearly assess their strengths and areas needing improvement. While many schools have rolled out technical assistance, more user-friendly platforms, and brief how-to guides, she emphasised that inclusive engagement depends on offering diverse communication methods. These should include face-to-face discussions, phone calls, and paper forms, along with flexible ways for parents to provide input.
Difficulties linked to digital processes also continue to disrupt everyday school administration. Noora Hassan, a specialist who works closely with parents, said schools’ growing dependence on electronic systems for approvals has revealed ongoing challenges, particularly with digital signatures. “I regularly send consent forms online, but many parents struggle to sign them electronically and ask for printed versions instead,” she said.
Hassan noted that this situation often slows down administrative procedures and requires repeated follow-ups to ensure requirements are met. She added that although digital platforms are designed to streamline operations, differences in parents’ digital skills mean schools must dedicate extra time and effort to keep communication accessible and effective for everyone.
