Dubai KHDA forms parents and educators councils, approves new students council
In short
Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has set up the first Dubai Parents Council, with 15 parents of private-school students, and the first Dubai Educators Council, with 15 teachers and education professionals. It also approved the second Dubai Students Council cohort for 2026–27, made up of 16 students in Grades 9 to 12 across Dubai private schools. KHDA said it received 131 nominations for the students council, 152 for the parents council and 160 for the educators council, and that the three councils will give the groups direct platforms to engage with the authority.
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Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has formed the first Dubai Parents Council, made up of 15 parents of students in private schools, and the first Dubai Educators Council, made up of 15 teachers and education professionals, the authority announced. It also approved the second cohort of the Dubai Students Council for the 2026–27 academic year, comprising 16 students from Grades 9 to 12 across Dubai private schools. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
KHDA said it received 131 nominations for the Dubai Students Council, 152 for the Dubai Parents Council and 160 for the Dubai Educators Council, including nominations from Emirati educators. Members were selected through a structured process based on eligibility criteria and a methodology designed to ensure fairness, transparency and diversity, according to the authority. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The three councils support the objectives of Dubai's Education 33 (E33) Strategy and its game-changer initiatives to empower students, parents and educators, including Leaders of Tomorrow, Pathway Partners and All Rise. KHDA said the councils will provide platforms for collaboration and direct engagement, enabling students, parents and educators to contribute their perspectives and act as strategic partners in enhancing the quality of education across Dubai's private schools and early childhood centres. WAM reported that the students council will give students the opportunity to engage with KHDA and ensure their perspectives inform education policy development, with members sharing their aspirations, experiences and ideas on creating better learning environments. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Dr Amna Almaazmi, CEO of Growth and Human Development at KHDA, said the formation of the three councils and their first joint meeting mark an important milestone in Dubai's education journey. She said the authority was proud to welcome the second cohort of the students council and, for the first time, to establish dedicated councils for parents and educators. “These councils reflect our belief that shaping the future of education is a shared responsibility,” she said, adding that bringing together the voices of students, families and educators can build an education system responsive to the needs and aspirations of the community. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
All three accounts of the announcement — Gulf News, Emirates 24|7 and the official Emirates News Agency WAM — describe the same council sizes, nomination figures, selection process and supporting strategy, and quote the same KHDA official. The documents do not state what decision-making authority the councils will hold. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The three councils create formal channels through which parents, teachers and students can engage directly with KHDA, which oversees Dubai's private schools and early childhood centres — a sector that serves a large share of the emirate's families. KHDA presents them as part of Dubai's Education 33 (E33) Strategy and its game-changer initiatives, including Leaders of Tomorrow, Pathway Partners and All Rise. The documents do not describe what formal powers, if any, the councils will hold.
Key facts
- KHDA formed the first Dubai Parents Council, comprising 15 parents of students enrolled in private schools. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- KHDA formed the first Dubai Educators Council, comprising 15 teachers and education professionals. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- KHDA approved the second cohort of the Dubai Students Council for the 2026–27 academic year, with 16 students from Grades 9 to 12 across Dubai private schools. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- KHDA said it received 131 nominations for the Dubai Students Council, 152 for the Dubai Parents Council and 160 for the Dubai Educators Council, including nominations from Emirati educators. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Members were selected through a structured process based on eligibility criteria and a methodology designed to ensure fairness, transparency and diversity, according to KHDA. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The councils support the objectives of Dubai's Education 33 (E33) Strategy and its initiatives Leaders of Tomorrow, Pathway Partners and All Rise. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Dr Amna Almaazmi, CEO of Growth and Human Development at KHDA, said the formation of the three councils and their first joint meeting mark a milestone in Dubai's education journey. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- KHDA has established a first Dubai Parents Council of 15 parents and a first Dubai Educators Council of 15 teachers and education professionals, and approved a second 16-member Dubai Students Council cohort for 2026–27. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The three councils are intended to support Dubai's Education 33 (E33) Strategy and provide platforms for students, parents and educators to engage directly with KHDA. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Dr Amna Almaazmi of KHDA described the councils as reflecting a shared responsibility for shaping the future of education. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- What authority the three councils will have in decision-making. The documents say the councils will provide platforms for collaboration and direct engagement with KHDA and that students will have their perspectives inform education policy development, but do not state whether the councils hold decision-making or purely advisory roles.
- The full text of Dr Amna Almaazmi's comments. The quoted statements in the documents are cut off mid-sentence in the available article text, so the remainder of her remarks is not available.