Abu Dhabi schools must appoint Boards of Trustees under new rules

The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has confirmed that schools must establish boards of trustees, the highest governing authority of the school, in accordance with ADEK requirements.

The board must consist of a minimum of five voting members, one non-voting member, and a maximum of fifteen members (depending on the size of the school), including the chairperson.

According to ADEK’s Schools Policy on Governance, which all schools are required to comply with starting from the first semester of the current academic year, the voting members of the board of trustees must include:

Officials in an official capacity: The school owner or their representative must serve as a voting member, either as chairperson or as a board member.

Parent representative: At least one parent representative, elected by the parents, must serve on the board. Parent members are expected to represent the interests of the wider parent body rather than their own personal interests.

Teacher representative: At least one teacher representative, elected by the teaching staff, must serve on the board. Teacher members are expected to represent the collective interests of teachers, not their own.

Independent external member: At least one independent external member must be appointed by the board, preferably someone with significant experience in education. The board is also encouraged to appoint an external member from the local business community to help the school achieve its goals.

The chairperson appoints a non-voting member to assume specific responsibilities, with the mechanism for their appointment defined in the school’s governance rules.

The principal is also a non-voting member of the board and must attend board meetings to provide advice, answer questions, and report on the school’s performance. If the principal is unable to attend, the deputy principal must attend in their place. However, neither the principal nor the deputy principal may attend meetings where the principal’s performance, remuneration, or other sensitive matters are discussed.

Schools may also include student representatives on the board.

Eligible students must be in Cycle 3, recognized for their leadership qualities, and elected by their peers. Schools may grant student representatives voting rights, subject to the principal’s approval. If they are non-voting members, their attendance and participation remain at the discretion of the chairperson. All members are expected to uphold the board’s collective responsibilities.