Admission to public schools for next year is limited to 5 student categories

The Ministry of Education revealed the requirements and controls for registration in government schools in various emirates of the country for the next academic year 2026-2027, to ensure justice and equal opportunities among students, and to achieve harmony in educational paths from kindergarten to grade 12.

The Ministry stated that the admission process is limited to five student categories, including citizens, children of female citizens, citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council countries, children of diplomats, and holders of decrees, specifying the requirements for each category, and emphasizing the necessity of submitting valid official documents, such as Emirati ID or diplomatic cards, as the case may be, stressing that students coming from unaccredited educational systems, or from outside the established residential area, will not be accepted.

She explained that student registration mechanisms proceed according to clear classifications that include new students enrolling in education for the first time, in addition to students transferring from private schools or institutes inside or outside the country, as well as from institutes of applied technology and government schools, with the aim of ensuring justice in the distribution of school seats, and achieving educational stability for students, in accordance with approved policies and applicable geographical scopes.

The Ministry said through the comprehensive guide for student registration, the details of which were reviewed by Emirates Today, that admission is based on the geographical scope of the student’s place of residence, with the requirement that academic certificates issued from outside the country be authenticated by the competent authorities, and their equivalency according to the approved systems, with the exception of some certificates issued by public schools in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, according to specific controls.

The Ministry has adopted special procedures for registering students of determination, starting with electronic application, followed by a diagnostic evaluation in inclusive education centers, on the basis of which the student’s eligibility to attend government school or kindergarten is determined. The documents required for this category have been determined, including recent medical and psychological reports, individual educational plans, transitional reports, and the People of Determination card, if any, with the evaluation result being approved throughout the academic year without re-registration.

The guide included fundamental updates related to the age of admission to kindergarten and first grade, as the Ministry decided to adopt the date of December 31 of the year of enrollment as a unified standard for calculating age, provided that this decision begins to be implemented starting from the academic year 2026-2027, and includes students not previously registered in any educational system. The decision also gave parents the option of registering their children born between September 1 and December 31, 2021 in the first or second kindergarten, according to what they deem appropriate.

The guide explained that registration in government schools includes new students, those transferring from schools inside or outside the country, in addition to students of the advanced track and applied and technological institutes, in accordance with controls that guarantee the integrity of the academic sequence and without disturbing the progression of educational stages.

He specified the approved age categories for admission, as the first kindergarten includes those born in 2022, and the second kindergarten includes those born in 2021, while students born in 2020 are accepted in the first grade, provided that the student’s age is not less than six years and does not exceed eight years by the end of December 2026.

Regarding registration requirements, the guide explained that parents must provide a set of basic documents, including educational certificates for the previous academic year, birth certificate, proof of residence, and Emirates ID or its equivalent, in addition to additional documents for some groups, especially students of determination, according to the nature of the case.

The Ministry indicated through the guide that the registration process takes place exclusively through its official website or through the smart application, where the guardian fills out the registration application and attaches the required documents, provided that the school reviews the application within three working days, and the guardian is notified of the status of the application, whether of initial acceptance or a request to complete deficiencies or rejection, with confirmation that final acceptance is subject to fulfilling all conditions and passing the scheduled interviews.

The guide devoted a separate chapter to organizing registration in the advanced track for the second cycle, explaining the conditions for candidacy, the required documents, and the academic admission criteria, which include achieving the minimum grades in the English language, mathematics, and science subjects, and passing the approved admission tests, taking into account the availability of vacancies and the priority of admission for students in the geographical area.

The Ministry confirmed that failure to register a student within the announced time period may result in a number of challenges, the most prominent of which is not ensuring the availability of a vacancy in a school within the geographical area of ​​the student’s residence, or not providing school transportation service. In this case, the guardian is also responsible for providing textbooks, which reflects the importance of adhering to the specified dates, to ensure that students receive integrated educational services from the beginning of the school year.

The Ministry concluded the guide by specifying the communication channels available to parents, which include school administrations within the geographic scope, the Ministry’s official website, call center, email, and technical support, in order to ensure easy access to information and provide the necessary support during registration periods.

5 hours.. Dubai private schools’ working hours during the month of Ramadan

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai announced a new organization for the school day in private schools during the holy month of Ramadan, stipulating that the duration of school work should not exceed a maximum of five hours, during weekdays, with confirmation that the school day ends on Friday no later than 11:30 a.m., ensuring that students and educational and administrative bodies have the opportunity to perform Friday prayers, and in a way that is consistent with the privacy of the holy month.

The authority explained to Emirates Today that it aims to harmonize the educational environment with the spiritual atmosphere of the month of Ramadan, and to ensure that the educational process continues smoothly and regularly, without exhausting students or compromising academic goals, while taking into account the change in daily lifestyle resulting from fasting.

The Authority’s instructions to schools included exempting fasting students from physical education classes during fasting hours, in order to ensure their health safety and to avoid any physical stress that might affect their ability to continue the school day in a safe and comfortable manner.

The authority called on school administrations to involve parents in determining the start and end times of school during Ramadan, through approved communication channels, in a way that strengthens the partnership between the school and the family, and contributes to organizing the student’s day in an integrated manner, consistent with his academic and family obligations.