Abu Dhabi private schools to hire 2,000 Emirati teachers in next five years under education push

Abu Dhabi announced plans to hire 2,000 Emirati teachers over the next five years to promote local talent in the education sector through an Emiratisation policy for private education. The strategy, supported by the Ministry of Human Resources, the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (Nafis), and private education operators such as Gems Education, Taleem, Sabis, International Community Schools, and Liwa Education, aims to train and qualify a new generation of Emirati educators.

The Emiratisation Policy for Private Education focuses on providing training and qualifications for Emirati educators to lead in developing the next generation of learners. Private schools in Abu Dhabi will be required to meet new recruitment targets specifically for teaching roles to expand the government's Emiratisation strategy. Currently, private schools are subject to Emiratisation employment targets, but the new scheme aims to prioritize hiring citizens in teaching positions rather than administration roles.

The strategy will initially focus on teaching positions in Social Studies, Arabic, and Islamic Studies, with recruitment and integration occurring gradually over the next five years. To facilitate this, Adek is collaborating with Emirates College of Advanced Education to launch a teaching program that will develop a long-term pipeline of qualified Emirati teachers.

This program offers specialized training, practical classroom preparation, and employment opportunities within the private education sector, open to Emirati jobseekers and those transitioning into education careers.

Participants in the Nafis program, introduced in September 2021, will receive a monthly financial incentive of up to AED4,000 during the training period. Through this program, Emiratis will be eligible for a 10% share of all skilled jobs in private companies by 2026. Several private schools in Abu Dhabi have already made significant progress in integrating Emirati teachers, with Aldar Education signing an agreement to create over 300 opportunities for Emirati teachers and Taaleem committing to hiring over 200 Emirati educators.