The key facts
- Private schools in Dubai must report five consecutive unexplained absences or 10% unexplained absences per term
- KHDA rules extend to universities, vocational institutions and early childhood centres, but thresholds differ for them
- Boarding school staff must complete Level 2 child safeguarding training within three months
New attendance reporting thresholds
Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has introduced requirements under which private schools must report students who have missed five consecutive days without a valid explanation, as well as cases where unexplained absences amount to 10% or more of school days in a term. The measures are part of the Policy Framework for Safeguarding and Learner Protection, which strengthens the accountability of educational institutions for identifying threats to children's safety and wellbeing.
What exactly schools must do
Schools should not wait for thresholds to be reached if there are concerns that a child may be at risk: in such cases, staff are required to act immediately and refer the matter to the designated child safeguarding lead. Institutions must keep accurate attendance records, look into repeated or unexplained absences and track patterns indicating that a student needs support or protection. For vulnerable students, stricter attendance monitoring is permitted, allowing intervention before thresholds are reached.
Different rules for different ages and types of institutions
For students under 18, schools must contact parents, guardians or trustees to establish the reasons for absence. Students aged 18 and over should be contacted directly, with family involvement only with their consent or where there is a risk of harm. Schools must also monitor repeated short absences during the day, including frequent visits to the toilet or the school medical room, if these may indicate a risk.
Universities, early childhood centres and boarding schools
The framework policy also covers universities, vocational training institutions and early childhood development centres, although attendance requirements differ by type of institution. Universities and specialised institutions do not automatically fall under the five-day and 10% thresholds: they must set their own benchmarks taking into account different learning formats, including part-time study, evening classes and distance learning. Early childhood centres must count absences by the days a specific child is enrolled, rather than by the centre's overall operating calendar.
Procedures and staff training
Institutions must have written procedures for cases where a student cannot be located during the school day: such cases are immediately escalated to the safeguarding lead and senior leadership, and parents and relevant authorities are notified as necessary. Boarding schools face additional requirements, including appointing a safeguarding lead in the residence and a deputy, as well as appropriate supervision measures. Existing boarding staff must complete Level 2 child safeguarding training within three months.
The purpose of the new rules
According to KHDA's intent, the rules are designed to change attitudes towards unexplained absences: they should not be treated solely as an administrative or disciplinary matter, but also recognised as a possible signal that a child is struggling or may be at risk of harm.
