By Staff Reporter
The Ministry of Education has announced sweeping reforms and readiness plans for the 2025–2026 academic year, aimed at strengthening national identity, modernising assessments, and preparing students for the future with an AI-driven curriculum.
Speaking at a media briefing with the UAE Government Media Office, Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education, confirmed that public schools are fully prepared for the year ahead. Key updates include the removal of centralised second-semester tests, replaced with school-based assessments to improve learning quality and student wellbeing. Project-based learning will expand to all Cycle 2 students, while a new standardised test will measure proficiency in Arabic, English, and mathematics.
Arabic and Islamic studies will gain more teaching hours to reinforce national identity, with baseline Arabic assessments introduced in Grade 1. Nine new schools will open across the country, accommodating 25,000 students, supported by 800 new teachers and improved infrastructure, buses, textbooks, and digital devices.
The ministry also launched a Physical Education, Sports and Health Programme to promote healthy lifestyles and announced restructured Ta’aleem Councils and Parents’ Councils to involve families and teachers in decision-making.
A milestone initiative will be the rollout of a nationally developed Artificial Intelligence curriculum, the first of its kind in the UAE, delivered by 1,000 trained teachers across all grades. The programme will equip students to use AI responsibly while shaping the nation’s role in global education policy.
The ministry continues to invest in its teaching workforce, with over 23,000 educators trained and new competency assessments set for more than 23,000 staff in the coming year.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
