National Charity School

National Charity School is one of the oldest charity-based schools in Dubai. Jumma Al-Majid established the school in 1983 to educate children of low-income families. In its early days, the school started in separate buildings for boys and girls in Deira.  It later moved to a spacious campus in Al Garhoud in 1986 which is now a campus for Girls, while the campus of the National Charity School for Boys was opened in 2021, and the school also includes other branches in Sharjah and Ajman.

The primary campus of the National Charity School was established in Abu Hail in 2021 for students in Grade 1 to Grade 4, Whereas, the National Charity School building in Al Garhoud is a boys campus as well as classes for girls in Grade 5 to Grade 12.

This school targets the holistic development of students from Grade 1 to Grade 12. This educational institute follows the Ministry of Education (MOE) curriculum. It is the national curriculum of the UAE, with Arabic as the language of instruction. English is also taught to students as a second language. Boys and girls study together from Grade 1 to Grade 4, Afterwards, they study in separate sections. 
It has around 4,883 students aged 6 to 18 years old. This large number of students are managed by experienced teaching staff. The campus facilities are satisfactory and complement its learning objectives.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) rated the school performance as acceptable in the last inspection.

Read this guide by Bayut to know more about the National Charity School.

• Location: The National Charitable School for Boys / The National Charitable School for Girls (Al Garhoud), The National Charity Foundation School (Abu Hail)
• Fees: AED 4,366 to AED 8,003
• Curriculum: MOE curriculum
• Co-education/Segregated: Co-ed till Grade 4
• KHDA Rating: Acceptable
• Grades: Grade 1 to Grade 12

The National Charity School primary is located in Abu Hail, a part of the Deira in ​​Dubai. It is a mixed-use area and includes many residential and commercial properties. The area is also close to many communities and residential areas, including:

• Hor Al Anz
• Al Wuheida
• Al Baraha

Hor Al Anz is the closest to the campus of the National Charity School primary, as it is located in Deira Dubai and you will mainly find a wide range of apartments for rent.

• Apartments for rent near National Charity School
• Villas for rent near National Charity School
• Villas for sale near National Charity School

The National Charity School is on a spacious land in Al Garhoud with adequate facilities. It offers a good schooling environment by balancing academic and non-academic provisions.

Classrooms are bright, airy and equipped with whiteboards. They are equipped with age-appropriate desks, chairs and cupboards. Other key features on campus include science laboratories, computer laboratories and a library. In 2014, the school underwent a massive refurbishment by Dubai Cares. They assembled 1,000 new desks and installed shade in outdoor areas. One of the major renovations were made to the school’s library. They also replaced the classrooms’ blackboards with whiteboards.

Similarly, Dubai Cares volunteered for another refurbishment. They assembled 750 desks and renovated other facilities to elevate students’ learning experience.

This educational institute is near the junction of Rebat Street and 5th Street in the Southern part of Al Garhoud. Ahdaaf Sports Club and New Indian Model School are other nearby landmarks from the school.

National Charity school is popular among the low-income Arab expatriates in Dubai. Charity schools are a nexus of low-priced schools, ideal for middle and lower-class families. As a charity-based school, it aims to meet the educational needs of communities struggling to meet both ends. It offers complete education to children from Grade 1 to Grade 12 at modest tuition fees.

A unique feature of this school is its ethos and culture that reflect the Emirati culture. It is a reason why the school predominantly has Arab students. It follows the Ministry of Education (MOE) curriculum, UAE’s national curriculum applicable from kindergarten to Grade 12. It serves as an excellent opportunity for students to receive international-standard education in a home-like environment. KHDA has also appreciated the school’s efforts for Arabic and Islamic Education.

Another attractive feature is its focus on cultivating 21st-century skills. It has designed an extra-curricular programme that develops useful skills among students. It further supports the non-academic growth of students through school clubs and field trips.

National Charity School is an all-through educational institute that educates children from Grade 1 to Grade 12. Children aged 6 to 18 years old are engaged in their studies. The educational system at this school is:

The educational programme at the National Charity School is based on the Ministry of Education (MOE) curriculum. MOE curriculum is an innovative and globally competitive academic programme. The medium of instruction is Arabic; yet, English is also part of the syllabus as a second language.

Core subjects taught in different stages are:

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum established the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in 2006. It is a governmental entity to oversee and improve the quality of education in Dubai. KHDA provides support to stakeholders, including students, parents and educational institutes. Each year, it inspects the performance of schools and rates them based on a 6-point scale. The scale varies from the best performance rating ‘outstanding’ to the worst performance rating ‘very weak’. The scale is briefly explained below:

In the latest inspection report of 2019-20, KHDA rated National Charity School Garhoud as acceptable. It has maintained this rating for the last ten years. Here are some positives highlighted in last year’s report:

• Good achievement by students in Arabic and Islamic Education
• Students’ social and personal development, and their understanding of Islamic values and UAE culture
• The protection, care, guidance and support offered to students

KHDA also proposed the following recommendations:

• Improve the quality of teaching to ensure that most lessons are good and none are weak
• Enrich active learning activities within the curriculum for all subjects
• Monitor the quality of teaching and learning and focus on their outcomes on students
• Reduce the number of students in a class to optimise the learning experience.

The academic year at this educational institute starts in August and ends in July. There are 188 school days in an academic year, including examination days. The academic activities are split into the following three terms:

• The first term starts in the last week of August and ends in the first week of December. This is followed by a winter break from the second week of December to the last week of December.
• The second term starts in the first week of January and ends in the fourth week of March. This is followed by a spring break that ends in the second week of April.
• The third term starts in the third week of April and ends in the second week of July.

For more information, contact the school.

The admission process at the National Charity School is like other schools in Dubai. Kindly remember that it extends admission to all children legal citizens of the UAE. The registration process starts in early April and continues till mid-October.

Those looking for a seat must submit the student registration form. The form is available from the school. The following documents are mandatory with the student registration form:

• A copy of the child’s birth certificate
• A copy of the child’s passport with a valid UAE residence visa
• A copy of the candidate’s Emirates ID card
• A recent photograph of the child (size: 4×6)
• Original Emirates ID cards of the child and their parents (at the time of registering with KHDA)
• Previous academic record (for transferred candidates)
• School leaving certificate (for admissions in Grade 2 and above)

Please note that educational certificates must be in English or Arabic. Documents in any other language will not be accepted. The transfer certificates need to be attested by the following authorities:

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• UAE Embassy (country of origin)
• Ministry of Education (country of origin).

The school contacts parents to bring their child for an assessment. The assessment includes a written test and a personal interview. It helps them to gauge the candidate’s responsiveness and skills. After receiving the admission offer, parents must deposit the fee to secure the seat and sign a school-parent contract.

The age-grade guideline followed at this school Dubai is as follows:

This is based on the age of the students on 31st December (for schools beginning in September). Source: KHDA

* This is to cater to students transferring from systems that admit students of a younger age)

For further information, visit the admission guidelines by National Charity School.

At this school, the tuition fee is as follows:

Other charges are as follows:

Besides the aforementioned other charges, the school has recently announced book charges for the current academic year, which are as follows:

For more information, view the fee structure at National Charity School.

The school has collaborated with Skyline University College, Horzon University College and other reputable institutes in the UAE to offer scholarships. Moreover, it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with MENA College of Management. The partnership results in a fast-track route for the students of National Charity School to the bachelor’s programme at MCM. It will also result in many academic scholarship programmes.

The school’s medical staff has developed a healthy eating plan. It consists of healthy food items that have essential nutrients. It encourages children to bring healthy food items for snacks and lunches as per the healthy eating plan.

National Charity School has a transportation service for children. Its fleet has well-maintained buses with a range of security and safety features. Trained bus drivers and conductors manage its transport operations. It covers most of the areas in and on the outskirts of Dubai. The transportation charges are as follows:

• Throughout Dubai – AED 2,387 per year
• Outside Dubai – AED 2,808 per year

It does not offer boarding or a hostel facility.

The school does not offer any holiday camps. Those interested in enrolling their kids in a holiday camp should reach outside providers.

National Charity School at Al Garhoud has limited sports facilities for pupils. They have access to playgrounds to engage in many physical activities.

The school focuses on cultivating a diverse set of skills. It believes that non-academic activities help in the growth of students. Thus, it has designed the programme in such a way to ensure activities for everyone. They also take part in many art-related extra-curricular activities. The environmental group and media club are a few clubs at the National Charity School. These clubs emphasise environment-related extra-curricular activities, such as plantation drives.

Field trips are another source of extra-curricular activity at this school. Due to a shift-based system, it has a limited time for extra-curricular activities. Moreover, the school collaborated with third-party organisations, such as colleges and universities, to arrange college awareness programmes for senior students.

Students in each grade are taken on a field trip at least once per year. Young children usually visit hospitals, museums and recreation spots in Dubai. Some popular visits are:

• Sahara Centre Sharjah
• Dubai Frame
• Creek Park Dubai
• Dubai’s Mushrif Park

The school does not offer after-school care as they work in two shifts.

It has a medical centre where the necessary equipment is available. The medical staff takes care of the general health of students.  For this purpose, they conduct regular checks for obesity and chronic health diseases. The medical team also issues a healthy eating plan for children.

The school adopts a more traditional approach to communication with parents. Parents and teachers can communicate via face-to-face meetings. Results days are when parents and teachers can discuss their child’s progress. It also shares information on its official website under the ‘media centre’ section. Parents can also contact teachers on the school designated WhatsApp group.

• Telephone number:
  • Primary: +971-4-282-4499 (Ext.: 202)
  • Boys: +971-4-282-4499 (Ext.: 241)
  • Girls: +971-4-282-4499 (Ext.:235)
• Email address: ncharity@emirates.net.ae
• Official website
• Facebook

Note that the cover image belongs to National Charity School.

What are the school hours?

The school operates in the morning every Monday to Friday throughout the academic calendar.

How many grades are in the National Charity School Dubai?

The school offers education from Grade 1 to Grade 12. Students in Grade 1 to Grade 4 are accommodated in the National Charity Foundation School while students in Grade 5 and above study in National Charity School Boys and Girls campus.

Does the school follow co-education model?

Yes, the co-education model is followed till Grade 4. Afterwards, boys and girls study in separate sections,

How many students are currently studying at this school?

About 4,800 students from different Arabic countries are part of this school.

What is the academic calendar of National Charity School?

The school year at The National Charitable School Dubai begins at the end of August and ends at the beginning of July.

What’s the tuition fee charged by the school?

The tuition fee at National Charity School ranges in between AED 4,366 to AED 8,003.

How the school communicate with parents?

The school adopts more traditional communication methods for communicating with parents, including regular parent-teacher meetings and school WhatsApp groups as well as the school’s website and social media pages.

Does the school organise field trips for students?

Yes, the school organizes field trips every academic year.

How many teachers are part of this school?

National Charity School Dubai has 231 experienced teachers and assistants, mostly from Jordan.