To Be Global, You Need to Think Globally

Dubai is truly a global city. Its governance is very different than that of most Western cities, particularly cities in my area of the world, North America. In our cities, the majority of schools are run by our government. Schools that are not run by the government are known as independent schools or private schools. Most are considered better alternatives to our state or province-run schools. But few have an international flavor of any kind. We do have variety – some are run by religious institutions, and some, like Montessori schools, take a more holistic view of education.

Only a few are focused on education systems from other parts of the world. When we look at school choice in America, we tend to look at subtle differences in the same education system. Maybe a school has superior athletics. Or is deemed safer. Or has a better quality of teachers. But we don’t go to British Schools. Or French Schools. Perhaps we’re convinced that we have the world’s best education system. Or perhaps, we just haven’t taken the time or energy to offer the real variety like a child can find in Dubai.

There are 195 private schools in Dubai. Of those, 29 offer the American curriculum. 58 schools offer the British curriculum. If neither the American or British style schools appeal to your family, you may choose the Central Board of Secondary Education curriculum from India. You’ll also find Canadian, German, Filipino, Iranian, Australian and more. Like the United States and Canada, your government funds an education for every student. But unlike our educational choices, you choose from among the best education choices in the world. That is how a city becomes global. You need to think globally. By offering your citizens the choice to explore and discover the best the world has to offer, you are preparing your children to be global citizens, and giving them the tools to compete and live in a future that will involve world collaboration and cooperation. It is very smart.

To be sure, there are some distinct advantages to governing an Emirate the size of Dubai, vs. governing a nation the size of the United States. But no matter the size, smart decisions are smart decisions. I look at the progress your Ministry of Education is making, and I see the forward-thinking vision. Dubai is making an effort to prepare its students for a future world that we have not yet imagined. In the United States, we tend to think less about the future and more about getting our children through a system that seems too large and unwieldy to change. We need to learn from you. The world is interconnected. We are a global economy – and our education needs to be as well.