The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has established Dubai’s first Parents Council and Educators Council and approved the second cohort of the Dubai Students Council for 2026–27. The councils bring parents, teachers and students into direct dialogue with KHDA and are designed to support better education policies, stronger school-family partnerships and improved student experiences across Dubai’s private education sector.
- Location: Dubai, UAE
- Authority: Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA)
- Status: Councils established for the 2026–27 academic year
- Members: 15 parents, 15 educators and 16 students
- Students: Grades 9 to 12 from Dubai private schools
- Focus: Education policy, student learning, family wellbeing and educator wellbeing
- What’s next: The councils will engage with KHDA and contribute ideas and perspectives on Dubai’s education system
Dubai’s KHDA has launched its first Dubai Parents Council and Dubai Educators Council, while welcoming the second cohort of the Dubai Students Council for the 2026–27 academic year. The move gives parents, teachers and students a formal platform to share their views directly with the education authority.
KHDA said the three councils support Dubai’s Education 33 (E33) Strategy, with a focus on building a learner-centred education system and giving the wider school community a greater role in shaping education in the emirate.
Who is part of Dubai’s new education councils?
The new Parents Council includes 15 parents from private schools across Dubai. It brings together Emirati and expatriate parents to discuss common priorities and contribute to initiatives affecting students and families.
The Educators Council also has 15 members, comprising teachers and education professionals. KHDA said the nominations included Emirati educators and were assessed through a structured selection process.
Meanwhile, the second Dubai Students Council has 16 students from Grades 9 to 12 across Dubai’s private schools.
The number of nominations shows the level of interest in the new platforms. KHDA received 152 nominations for the Parents Council, 160 for the Educators Council and 131 for the Students Council.
Members were selected using eligibility criteria and a methodology intended to support fairness, transparency and diversity.
What will the Parents Council do?
The Dubai Parents Council will give families a direct channel to engage with KHDA on issues affecting education and school life.
According to KHDA, the council will address shared priorities, strengthen school-family partnerships and contribute to education policies and initiatives that support student learning and family wellbeing.
This is particularly relevant in Dubai, where private schools serve families from a wide range of nationalities, curricula and backgrounds.
The council can also give KHDA a clearer understanding of concerns and expectations from parents beyond individual school-level discussions.
How will the Educators Council support teachers?
The new Educators Council gives teachers and education professionals a dedicated platform to bring their experience into discussions with KHDA.
The council is expected to contribute perspectives on education policies, students’ educational experiences and issues connected to educator wellbeing.
KHDA had announced the expansion of the council model in June 2026, highlighting areas such as teacher development, inclusion, wellbeing and community engagement.
The move comes as Dubai’s private education sector continues to grow. For the 2026–27 academic year, 26 new private education institutions are opening in Dubai, including seven schools, 17 early childhood centres and two international higher education institutions.
The seven new schools alone are expected to add almost 17,000 seats, while the number of teachers in Dubai’s private education sector has increased by 17.5% over the past three academic years, according to Dubai Media Office.
What role will students have?
The Students Council gives older students an opportunity to take part in discussions that can influence their education experience.
The 2026–27 cohort includes students from Grades 9 to 12, who will engage with KHDA and share their experiences, aspirations and ideas about learning environments.
The council was first introduced for the 2025–26 academic year under KHDA’s Leaders of Tomorrow initiative. The first cohort included 16 students from 16 private schools, representing six curricula and nine nationalities and cultures.
The initiative is part of a wider effort to give students a voice in discussions about the education system rather than treating them only as recipients of education services.
How do the three councils fit into Education 33?
The three councils form part of Dubai’s Education 33 Strategy, which aims to create a future-ready education system centred around learners.
KHDA has linked the councils to several E33 initiatives, including Leaders of Tomorrow, Pathway Partners and All Rise.
Leaders of Tomorrow focuses on developing student leadership and participation. Pathway Partners supports parents in making informed education decisions, while All Rise focuses on attracting and developing high-quality educators.
Together, the councils create a broader feedback structure involving the three groups most closely connected to school life: students, families and educators.
For parents in Dubai, the Parents Council creates a new route for family perspectives to reach KHDA. Teachers and education professionals gain a dedicated platform to raise issues linked to their work and wellbeing, while students can contribute directly to conversations about their learning experiences.
The approach could also become increasingly important as Dubai’s private education sector expands and schools serve a growing number of students from different backgrounds.
KHDA said the three councils have already held their first joint meeting, bringing the groups together to begin working as strategic partners in Dubai’s education system.
FAQs
What are Dubai’s new KHDA councils?
KHDA has established the first Dubai Parents Council and Dubai Educators Council and approved the second cohort of the Dubai Students Council for 2026–27.
How many members are in each council?
The Parents Council has 15 members, the Educators Council has 15 members and the Students Council has 16 members.
Who can be represented on the Dubai Students Council?
The current cohort consists of students from Grades 9 to 12 studying in Dubai’s private schools.
What will the Dubai Parents Council do?
It will discuss shared family priorities, strengthen school-family partnerships and contribute to education policies and initiatives supporting students and family wellbeing.
Why did KHDA create the three councils?
KHDA created the councils to bring student, parent and educator perspectives into direct dialogue with the authority and support the objectives of Dubai’s Education 33 Strategy.
Dubai’s new three-council model gives students, parents and educators a more formal role in conversations about private education. With the first Parents and Educators Councils now established and the Students Council entering its second year, KHDA is expanding community participation as Dubai’s education sector continues to grow.
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