Dubai: Enrolment in Dubai private schools showed “resilience” even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, dipping less than three per cent in one academic year, a new report has said.
Across Dubai’s 208 schools, the slight fall in enrolments was primarily in Early Year grades as parents were concerned about health-safety issues, according to the latest report by L.E.K. Consulting. The number of Early Years enrolments slid from about 28,000 to around 23,000 students in 2021.
Overall, between academic year 2020 and 2021, enrolment declined by 8,000 students, from around 295,000 to about 287,000 students in Dubai private schools, L.E.K. said. For the report, it conducted its own primary research with UAE schools as well as obtained data from Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and the United Kingdom-based Oxford Economics.
Zarastro and stablemate Coastwatch, both expensive yearling sale purchases, clash in the Precise Air Handicap (1200m).
Only Zarastro is eligible for next month’s Magic Millions at the Gold Coast after the Waller team secured the I Am Invincible colt for $1.05 million at last January’s sale. Fastnet Rock colt Coastwatch cost $750,000 at the Inglis Easter Sale.
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Hugh Bowman will ride Zarastro for Chris Waller at Randwick on Saturday. Photo: Mark Evans/Getty Images