Dubai’s education councils are broadening participation by bringing parents and school professionals into the decision-making process, ensuring a wider range of perspectives contribute to discussions on educational development and student success.
Dubai education councils expand stakeholder representation with parents and school staff.
Dubai’s education landscape is set to become more inclusive with the introduction of two new advisory bodies aimed at increasing community participation in shaping the future of learning. Beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) will establish the Dubai Parents Council and the Dubai Educators Council, with each group consisting of 15 members.
The initiative reflects a broader effort to ensure that those directly involved in students’ educational journeys have a stronger voice in discussions surrounding school policies, learning experiences, and educational development. By bringing parents and educators into a formal consultation framework, KHDA aims to create a more collaborative approach to decision-making across Dubai’s private education sector.
The move follows the positive impact of the Dubai Students Council, which was introduced to give young people an opportunity to share their perspectives on issues affecting education. Building on that foundation, the new councils will expand representation to include other key stakeholders whose insights and experiences can help inform future strategies and improvements.
Through these councils, parents and teachers will have a structured platform to contribute ideas, highlight challenges, and participate in conversations that influence educational outcomes. The initiative underscores Dubai’s commitment to fostering a more engaged and community-driven education system where diverse viewpoints play a meaningful role in shaping the learning environment.
Parents and educators step into formal advisory roles
The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is set to introduce two new community-focused advisory groups at the beginning of the 2026-27 academic year, further expanding stakeholder involvement in Dubai’s education sector. The Dubai Parents Council and the Dubai Educators Council will each consist of 15 members chosen through a clear and structured selection process aimed at ensuring broad representation and transparency.
The initiative has already generated considerable interest across the emirate. According to KHDA, applications exceeded expectations, with 152 parents applying to join the Parents Council and 160 educators submitting applications for the Educators Council. The applicant pool included Emirati parents and teachers from a variety of educational backgrounds, highlighting strong enthusiasm for playing a more active role in shaping the future of education in Dubai.
These newly established councils are intended to create formal channels through which parents, teachers, and education authorities can engage in meaningful dialogue. By bringing together individuals who are directly involved in students’ learning experiences, the councils will help provide valuable insights that can support policy development, educational planning, and system-wide improvements.
The councils will also contribute to the implementation of Dubai’s Education 33 Strategy, a long-term roadmap designed to enhance learning outcomes, strengthen educational quality, and prepare students for the demands of the future. Through regular discussions and feedback, council members will be able to share perspectives, identify opportunities for improvement, and contribute ideas that support the strategy’s broader objectives.
Dr Amna Almaazmi, Chief Executive Officer of the Growth and Human Development Sector at KHDA, emphasised the importance of involving families and educators more closely in the educational process. She noted that the Education 33 Strategy is built on the understanding that students achieve their greatest potential when the adults supporting them remain actively engaged throughout their learning journey.
According to Dr Almaazmi, meaningful educational progress depends on strong partnerships between schools, teachers, parents, and policymakers. By creating dedicated platforms for parents and educators to voice their experiences and perspectives, KHDA aims to strengthen collaboration across the sector and ensure that decisions are informed by those who interact with students on a daily basis.
She explained that the new councils represent an important step toward building a more connected education ecosystem, where communication flows more effectively between stakeholders and where diverse viewpoints help guide future initiatives. The goal is not only to listen to parents and educators but also to give them an active role in influencing programmes, policies, and projects that impact learning across the emirate.
Dr Almaazmi added that parents and teachers are essential partners in every student’s development, and their contributions can provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing schools today. Through these councils, their voices will become a more integral part of conversations about educational innovation, student well-being, and long-term sector growth.
Ultimately, the launch of the Dubai Parents Council and Dubai Educators Council reflects KHDA’s commitment to fostering a more collaborative, inclusive, and forward-looking education system. By creating structured opportunities for engagement, the authority hopes to strengthen community participation and ensure that those closest to learners help shape the future direction of education in Dubai.
Building on student voice and expanding participation
Since its introduction during the 2025-26 academic year, the Dubai Students Council has emerged as an important channel for student participation within the emirate’s education system. Created to give young people a direct voice in discussions about education, the council brings together students from Grades 9 to 12 representing a variety of school curricula and educational backgrounds across Dubai.
The initiative was established to ensure that learners are not merely recipients of educational policies but active contributors to conversations about their learning experiences. By providing students with a formal platform to share opinions, raise concerns, and propose ideas, the council has helped strengthen communication between young people and education leaders.
Over the course of its first year, the council has played an increasingly active role in supporting dialogue around key educational topics. Members have participated in 16 internal meetings, where they discussed issues affecting students and explored opportunities to enhance learning environments across schools. These sessions have provided a structured setting for students to exchange perspectives, identify common challenges, and develop recommendations that can be shared with policymakers.
In addition to regular meetings, the council has introduced an interactive feedback mechanism that enables students to contribute their views on a broader range of educational matters. This platform has expanded opportunities for engagement beyond council members themselves, allowing student voices from different schools and communities to be heard and considered. The feedback collected through these channels has helped create a clearer understanding of student priorities and experiences across the emirate.
The council has also launched a dedicated newsletter aimed at strengthening communication between students, schools, and education authorities. Through updates, discussions, and shared insights, the publication has become a valuable tool for keeping learners informed while encouraging greater participation in educational dialogue. By fostering transparency and ongoing communication, the newsletter has helped bridge the gap between decision-makers and the students directly affected by educational policies.
According to KHDA officials, the success of the Dubai Students Council has demonstrated the positive impact that meaningful student participation can have on educational development. The initiative has shown that young people are capable of providing thoughtful perspectives and practical suggestions that contribute to improvements within the education sector.
Dr Amna Almaazmi, Chief Executive Officer of the Growth and Human Development Sector at KHDA, highlighted the strong response the council has received from the wider education community. She noted that the enthusiasm surrounding the initiative reinforces the importance of creating structured opportunities for students to engage in discussions that shape their educational experiences.
Dr Almaazmi explained that students have consistently demonstrated a willingness to contribute constructive ideas and offer valuable insights on matters that affect their daily learning journeys. Their involvement has provided education leaders with a deeper understanding of student needs, expectations, and aspirations, helping to inform decisions and initiatives across the sector.
She added that the achievements of the Students Council have provided a strong foundation for the introduction of additional stakeholder groups, including the newly established Dubai Parents Council and Dubai Educators Council. Just as students have successfully contributed their perspectives, KHDA believes parents and educators can also play a significant role in shaping future educational strategies and priorities.
According to Dr Almaazmi, the expansion of these participation platforms reflects a broader vision of creating a more collaborative education system where all key stakeholders have opportunities to contribute. Students, parents, and teachers each bring unique experiences and viewpoints that can help strengthen decision-making processes and improve educational outcomes.
She emphasised that meaningful progress in education depends on strong partnerships among everyone involved in a learner’s development. While students offer firsthand insights into classroom experiences, parents provide valuable perspectives on learning at home, and educators contribute professional expertise gained through daily interactions with learners. Bringing these voices together can help create a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
Dr Almaazmi expressed confidence that the addition of parent and educator councils will further enhance collaboration within Dubai’s education community. By encouraging dialogue across multiple stakeholder groups, KHDA aims to foster a more connected and inclusive environment where policies and initiatives are informed by diverse experiences and perspectives.
She noted that the ultimate goal is to create an education ecosystem that continuously evolves through active engagement and shared responsibility. By involving students, parents, and educators more closely in discussions about educational development, the authority hopes to strengthen the quality of decision-making and support better outcomes for learners across the emirate.
The experience of the Dubai Students Council has already demonstrated the benefits of this approach. Through regular engagement, feedback collection, and ongoing communication, the council has helped ensure that student voices are represented in conversations about the future of education. As Dubai expands its council framework to include parents and teachers, education leaders believe the collective contributions of these groups will help drive further innovation, strengthen collaboration, and support the continued advancement of the emirate’s education sector.
Looking ahead, KHDA expects these councils to play an increasingly important role in shaping educational initiatives and supporting the goals of Dubai’s long-term education strategy. By encouraging active participation from all key stakeholders, the authority aims to build a stronger, more responsive, and future-focused education system that benefits learners at every stage of their academic journey.
