UAE issues federal decree law to govern national education curriculum

Image: Dubai Media Office/ For illustrative purposes

The UAE has issued a federal decree law establishing a comprehensive legislative framework to govern the design, approval, implementation and review of the national educational curriculum, according to the state news agency, WAM.

The law introduces an integrated governance system that defines the roles and responsibilities of federal and local authorities to ensure coordination, transparency, accountability and community participation in the development of education.

It is designed to regulate the approval and structure of national curriculum components in a way that ensures consistency and stability while preserving the flexibility needed for ongoing updates in response to future developments and changing societal and labour market needs.

Here’s how it impacts the national educational curriculum

The aim is to enhance the quality of curriculum content, strengthen the competitiveness of the education sector and prepare students for effective integration into society and the economy at local and international levels.

The provisions apply to all public and private educational institutions implementing the national curriculum from kindergarten through Grade 12.

The law also requires private schools that do not follow the national curriculum to teach approved compulsory subjects, reinforcing unified national educational foundations and shared identity and values.

Under the decree, the National Education Charter of the UAE is designated as the supreme reference document defining national education objectives, graduate attributes, national identity, societal values, targeted competencies and general educational principles, guiding curriculum design and development.

The law specifies core curriculum components, including national learning standards and outcomes, curriculum design principles, teaching methods, educational pathways, language of instruction, learning duration, compulsory and elective subjects, and subject‑specific content to ensure clarity of the academic and pedagogical framework and the sustainability of quality.

It establishes a framework for classifying curriculum changes into four categories with defined approval authorities. Major changes that affect the philosophical or structural foundations require approval by the Education, Human Resources, and Community Development Council and ratification by the Council of Ministers, and must be piloted and evaluated before nationwide implementation.

Partial changes relating to specific subject components are approved by the council, while technical changes are approved by the Ministry of Education. Exceptional and urgent changes introduced in response to national or global emergencies are approved by the council, with reporting to the Council of Ministers if wide‑ranging.

The decree permits government, private and non‑profit entities, including those operating in free zones, to submit proposals for curriculum development or amendment, provided they are supported by reliable studies demonstrating alignment with national education objectives, labour market needs, national identity and societal values.

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The law outlines governance responsibilities

The law outlines governance responsibilities, with the Council of Ministers responsible for approving the National Education Charter, the national curriculum and major changes.

The Education, Human Resources, and Community Development Council is tasked with providing strategic direction and ensuring alignment with national policies.

The Ministry of Education is responsible for preparing, developing and reviewing the curriculum, providing educational resources, learning materials, assessment tools and teacher readiness mechanisms, and overseeing implementation.

Educational institutions are responsible for implementing the curriculum, participating in pilot programmes and submitting feedback to the Ministry.

Local education authorities will monitor implementation in private schools, and the National Centre for Education Quality will evaluate implementation, measure impact and submit periodic reports.