Dubai: While a study revealed that most student in Dubai are happy, relationships between Dubai students can be stressful, causing some to feel hopeless and stop taking part in activities, the latest Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) report revealed.
Instead of solely focusing on the academic performance of students in Dubai private schools, the KHDA launched the ‘School of hearts’ survey to measure the physical and emotional well-being of students.
In its pilot phase a total of 9,000 students from 40 schools took part in the survey.
The survey was divided into sections — one focusing on students between the ages of 12 to 16 (middle school students) and the other on students aged 9 to 13 (elementary school students).
The report found that relationships between students in middle school is an area of concern as only 41 per cent believed that other students didn’t spread mean rumours or lies about them in the past 12 months. This means that more than half, 59 per cent, have been subjects of gossip in that period.
In the section of the survey that focused on relationships between students in middle school, 34 per cent of students also said they have recently felt sad or hopeless and they stopped doing some usual activities.
"Next week we will hold workshops with the schools that took part in this survey and talk about how to design an action plan to help students overcome this,” said Hind Al Mualla, Chief of Creativity, and Happiness & Innovation at KHDA.
Derrick Duggan, principal of St. Mary’s Catholic High School whose grade six students took part in the survey, said having 34 per cent of students say that they felt sad and hopeless is worrying.
“This finding is quite worrying. We need to find out why this is the case, is it due to exam pressure or pressure from parents to perform or is it because they are entering the teens,” he said.
Carmita Al Meida, a teacher from Springdales Indian School in Dubai said students in this phase need extra support.
“They are becoming teenagers and that is a tough time for any child to go through, so schools must give more support and attention to students at this age,” she said.
Middle school students:
A total of 78 per cent of the 4,391 middle school students said they are happy to be at school.
When it came to their physical well-being, 72 per cent said they ate breakfast the day they were surveyed, 65 per cent said they came to school feeling rested, 53 per cent said they often (twice a week or more) eat food and 92 per cent said they like physical activities.
When asked about their relationships with teachers and adults, 75 per cent said teachers and other grown-ups at school care about them and 87 per cent of parents care about their school work.
“Having such a survey will help schools pinpoint any areas of concern. For example the percentage of students not eating breakfast can prompt the school to put in a breakfast programme. It would be nice to see parents and teachers also take such surveys,” said Duggan.
A total of 60 per cent also said students at school respect each other’s differences and 76 per cent said they feel safe at school.
Elementary students
Eighty-three per cent of the 4,948 students surveyed said they are happy to be at school.
When it came to relationships between students, 75 per cent of the children said students respect each other’s differences, 67 per cent said students at school try to stop bullying when they see it happening.
Eighty-one per cent said teachers in school care about them and tell them when they do a great job, 87 per cent teachers and other students make it clear that bullying is not allowed and 93 per cent said a parent or some grown up at home cares about school work.
When it came to their well-being, 80 per cent said they had eaten breakfast the day they had the survey and 94 per cent said they like to be physically active. However, only 61 per cent said that they often eat fruits and vegetables at school.
