Landmark federal decree mandates a consistent educational framework across all schools, integrating national priorities without disrupting academic pathways.
The UAE has ushered in a significant educational reform with a new federal decree law establishing a National Educational Curriculum, designed to bring greater consistency in teaching national values, identity, and character development across all classrooms—from public schools to private international institutions.
The law, which applies to every school from kindergarten through Grade 12, creates for the first time a comprehensive legal framework for the design, approval, and implementation of the national curriculum. At its core is the National Education Charter, which will serve as the country’s “supreme reference document,” outlining unified educational objectives, graduate attributes, and core competencies.
For families, the change signals a quieter but meaningful shift toward integrating UAE values and identity into daily learning, without upending existing academic programs. “Parents and students will notice greater consistency in how values, national identity, and character development are reflected across everyday learning,” said Lisa Crausby OBE, Group Chief Education Officer at GEMS Education.
School leaders emphasize that the law formalizes practices already in evolution. Shyni Davison, Principal of Woodlem Park School in Ajman, noted that schools following curricula such as CBSE have been preparing for a phased implementation. “The MOE has clearly outlined the phased implementation… Our leadership and teaching teams are fully prepared,” she stated.
The framework requires private schools offering international curricula to teach approved compulsory subjects—such as Arabic, Islamic Studies, and Moral, Social, and Cultural Studies—ensuring alignment with national priorities while preserving the integrity of their academic pathways. Education authorities have structured a gradual rollout, coupled with teacher training and clear guidance, to prevent disruption for students at critical academic stages.
The overarching goal is coherence: no matter which school a child attends in the UAE, their education will now share a common foundation in national values and identity, equipping them with both academic proficiency and a strengthened sense of belonging.
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