Exams will be replaced with skill-based evaluations for some students studying in the UAE's public schools, authorities announced on Tuesday.
Skills of students in the second cycle, from fifth to eighth grade, will be measured in this project instead of them having to sit for exams at the end of the academic year.
This was announced by by Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology.
The Ministry also announced the opening of 25 schools, including 12 new schools and 13 under comprehensive maintenance.
Educational institutions are actively preparing for the influx of students by distributing welcome-back kits and setting up new parent orientation websites. To ease the first day’s traffic congestion, many schools are coordinating staggered start times with nearby institutions.
Many parents are engaged in shopping for new supplies, seeking discounts, or opting for second-hand items to manage their expenses. Some UAE parents are spending up to Dh2,000 per child on back-to-school essentials, excluding tuition fees.
Last year, schools successfully greeted more than 1.1 million students back to their campuses after the summer vacation, with nearly 300,000 students returning to public schools. According to UAE officials, approximately 20,000 students transitioned from private to public schools in 2023.
