Dubai private schools must report pupils absent for five consecutive days without explanation

Dubai’s private schools must alert the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) when a pupil misses five days in a row without justification, under safeguarding requirements that take effect on publication of the authority’s learner protection framework, according to its implementation guidance.

A separate reporting trigger covers unexplained absences reaching at least 10 per cent of a pupil’s school days during a term, The National reported. KHDA’s implementation FAQ also identifies the threshold, describing it as 10 per cent of a term.

The FAQ places both notification thresholds among duties that apply from the framework’s effective date, alongside an immediate response when a learner goes missing. It does not give the calendar date on which the framework was published.

Schools must not wait for either absence threshold if a child may be at risk, The National reported. Such concerns must be addressed immediately and referred to the school’s designated safeguarding lead.

The newspaper also reported that schools must keep accurate attendance records and examine recurring or unexplained absences for signs that a pupil needs support or protection. Schools may monitor vulnerable pupils more closely before either reporting threshold is reached.

The wider framework covers every private education institution operating with KHDA permission, from early childhood centres and schools to universities and technical or vocational training providers. It covers teaching delivered both in person and online, with a common approach to preventing harm and handling safeguarding concerns.

Learners aged 18 and above are also covered. KHDA’s guidance says institutions must account for their adult legal status when handling consent, confidentiality, reports and referrals.

Some implementation work has a longer deadline. Institutions have up to 12 months from the effective date to complete specified changes, including reviewing and rewriting attendance policies and putting a written, tested missing-learner protocol in place.

KHDA says mandatory directives are legally enforceable, while optional provisions serve as guidance. The FAQ itself does not override the framework, UAE law, other KHDA requirements or applicable safeguarding protocols in Dubai.