The Impact of Educational Reforms on the Work of the School Principal in the United Arab Emirates

Although much has been written about the complexity of educational change and reform elsewhere, the educational reform movement in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a relatively recent phenomenon with little systematic documentation as yet; educators are still searching for a clear understanding of their roles. However, it is clear that the leadership of the country is exerting great pressure for reform in schools and there is a sense of urgency about the need for large-scale change. This article examines the impact of these reforms on the work of one school principal at this time of radical transformation. It begins with a brief review of some of the specific changes taking place in the emirate of Abu Dhabi including the introduction of a public private partnership model in public schools and a brief discussion of the role of school principals in the management of change. This is followed by a description of the study and the methodological design underpinning it. The findings of the study are presented and discussed and the article concludes with some recommendations for further research.