Permanent Exclusion or Disciplinary Transfer in UAE Schools: What Circumstances Lead to Such Measures?

New Student Behaviour Code Introduced in UAE Schools

The United Arab Emirates Education Ministry has approved a comprehensive Student Behaviour Code for the 2022/2023 academic year, outlining 46 categorized violations and corresponding disciplinary measures. This code aims to maintain a safe and orderly learning environment for all students.

The Student Behaviour Code classifies student misconduct into four levels of severity. Level 1 outlines 11 minor violations, including habitual tardiness, failure to wear the official school uniform, inappropriate hairstyles, and neglecting to bring textbooks or school supplies. Disciplinary actions for Level 1 violations include verbal warnings, written notices, and point deductions from the student's behavior grade.

Level 2 addresses more disruptive or socially concerning behaviors such as unexcused absences, leaving class without permission, inciting or threatening fights, and expressions that conflict with societal norms. Disciplinary actions for Level 2 violations include point deductions, temporary suspensions, and repeated written warnings. Possession or misuse of mobile phones, smoking on school premises, and verbal abuse toward peers or staff are listed as Level 2 violations.

Level 3 includes serious offenses like bullying, cheating, fleeing school, unauthorized photography, physical assaults, and destruction of school property. Immediate suspension, psychological or behavioral intervention, and mandatory parental conferences are the disciplinary actions for Level 3 violations.

Level 4 includes severe and criminal acts such as sexual or violent assaults, possession or use of weapons, drug abuse or trafficking, arson, organized theft, dissemination of extremist ideologies, leaking of exam questions, and religious or political defamation. Immediate suspension, seizure of involved materials, and referral to legal or security authorities are the disciplinary actions for Level 4 cases. Permanent expulsion or disciplinary transfer may follow Level 4 cases based on official rulings.

Repeat offenses of Level 3 violations can lead to mandatory transfer to another school with continued behavioral tracking. Disciplinary transfers to other schools are permitted for repeated misconduct.

Teachers are instructed to begin with verbal warnings, escalate to written notices, and, in repeated cases, deduct points from the student's behavior grade. Students referred to a school behavior committee for formal evaluation are also part of the code.

The institution responsible for adopting this code of conduct for the current academic year is not specified in the provided search results. This new Student Behaviour Code aims to promote a positive school climate, foster respectful and responsible behaviour among students, and ensure a safe and productive learning environment for all.

Permanent Exclusion or Disciplinary Transfer in UAE Schools: What Circumstances Lead to Such Measures?