High male drop-out rates in UAE government schools have typically been attributed to pull factors such as the lure of the high paying, low education requirements of the public sector. However this study, based on surveys and interviews of over 500 young men across the UAE, finds that push factors such as poor quality teachers and a demotivating school environment play a significant role in the decision of young men to leave school before completion. The findings suggest that reforming school and teacher quality would have a significant impact on retention rates and on future life choices of young Emirati men.

About the Presenter

Natasha Ridge is the Executive Director of the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research. Prior this she was the Acting Director of Research at the Dubai School of Government. She holds a Doctorate of Education with a specialization in International Education Policy from Columbia University, New York. Her research focuses on secondary education in the GCC and examines topics such as boys' education, teacher quality, curriculum and education policy in general. Her publications include a number of working papers and policy briefs for the Dubai School of Government and the Al Qasimi Foundation in addition to several book chapters. Dr. Ridge also writes for The National and the Gulf News and is in the process of writing her first book.

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