The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is all set to welcome students back to classrooms on Monday for the 2025-2026 academic year. In addition, more than one million children are expected to return to schools across the nation. So, the Ministry of Education has revealed sweeping changes, including the cancellation of the second-term exam, due to the continuous evaluation system developed to reduce stress and create critical thinking skills.
Major Shift in Assessment Policy
Mohammed Al Qasim, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education, explained that this new policy is going to apply to students from grade five onward. He told the Gulf News, “This switch aims to boost academic help and concentrate on students’ extracurricular abilities.”
Instead of depending on high-pressure testing, students will now be assessed through holistic and ongoing evaluation. So, the removal of the second-term exam is a major transformation in the education strategy of the UAE. So, it ensures that students are judged on their overall performance throughout the year rather than one-time exam.
New UAE Schools and Modern Infrastructure
Nine new schools have opened across the UAE to accommodate the growing student population. Minister of Education Sarah Al Amiri confirmed that the authority has empowered infrastructure and broadened learning spaces to ensure every student has access to a modern and innovative environment. Al Amiri said that our priority is developing a system that creates critical thinkers and prepares children for the complexities of the future.
Focus on Artificial Intelligence and Future Skills
Assistant Undersecretary for Curriculum and Assessment Amna Al Saleh has highlighted the vision of the UAE for future-ready education. So, she said, “1000 teachers are going to initiate instructing children related to artificial intelligence during the upcoming academic years.”
This campaign goes hand-in-hand with the cancellation of the second-term exams in the UAE. So, this move highlights the long-term strategy of the nation to prioritize the practical skills over rote memorization.
Numbers at a Glance for the upcoming academic year
- 520 schools under the ministry serve nearly 280,000 students.
- 25,000 new registrations recorded for 2025-26.
- Over 5,500 school buses are deployed for student transport.
- 47,000 laptops distributed for digital learning.
- More than 1 million textbooks were printed for the academic year.
These changes show the dedication of the UAE to developing a world-class education system that meets international standards.
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