The “appointment letter” is a mandatory requirement for working in private schools starting from the next academic year

The Department of Education and Knowledge in Abu Dhabi confirmed that the employment of educational staff in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is subject to a tight regulatory framework, which aims to improve the quality and procedures of recruitment, appointment, promotions, professional development and performance management, noting that according to the good employment policy that all private schools operating in the emirate will adhere to, all employees must be registered. In the school staff data system, obtain an appointment letter before joining the school.

In detail, the Department of Education and Knowledge has obligated private schools to register all employees in the school employee data system PAS (Employee Licensing Portal), and to obtain an appointment letter, or a work permit for each candidate, before they join the school. Schools must also register all invited volunteers and visitors on the systems. The department obtained a work permit for each candidate before joining the school, noting that the appointment letter is “a letter issued by the Department of Education and Knowledge to confirm the appointment of the candidate to fill a position,” while the work permit means “a letter issued by the department allowing the employment of external employees in the school.”

The department indicated in the new employment policy, a copy of which was obtained by Emirates Today, that it will verify all candidates registered in the school employee data system, and approval will be granted only if they pass the latest verification requirements, stressing that candidates who are subject to investigation cannot Issues related to the protection of students: Students must pass the verification process in order to be granted permission from the relevant authority.

Schools must continually update PDS files, complete PDS registration at the beginning of the school year and update personal files as necessary, so that letters of appointment match employee job positions at all times, and any discrepancies will be subject to non-compliance procedures.

Schools must also employ and promote staff based on the eligibility criteria, specified in the policy for accepting employees in schools, and certify qualifications from the relevant authorities. Evidence of the equivalency of the degree in the UAE must be provided, and qualifications must be issued by recognized educational institutions or licensing bodies. By the relevant local or international accreditation bodies, where the appointment letter or work permit will remain temporary until the certification process is completed.

The department identified eight mandatory positions that schools must ensure are filled at all times as full-time employees, including teachers, the principal, the deputy principal, the head of integration, the health and safety officer, the social worker and the nurse, in addition to university guidance counselors for “schools that have senior circles.” Schools must ensure Whoever fills all educational positions for all subjects and classes at all times, and in the event of a vacancy, it must be filled temporarily with a reserve teacher, noting that new schools that have less than 500 students are not required to have It has a deputy principal for the first five years of operation, with a commitment to appoint an acting senior academic leader.

Employees who were employed before the issuance of the Department of Education and Knowledge policy and who do not meet the new requirements can continue to work in schools under specific conditions, which constitute the obligation of employees who work in Abu Dhabi schools in a leadership position and who do not have teaching experience, to obtain a valid driving license. Educational qualifications by the beginning of the 2026-2027 academic year, while employees who have been appointed to a teaching position and do not possess an educational qualification are obligated to obtain a “Level 6” qualification, according to the National Qualifications System in the Emirates, or a license. Valid educational certificate by the beginning of the 2026/2027 academic year.

The Department stressed that schools must be fully compliant with this policy by the beginning of the next academic year 2025-2026, as non-compliance with this policy exposes the school to legal accountability and penalties applied under the regulations, policies and requirements of the Department of Education and Knowledge.