Schools change to three-term year

The current two-term system is changing to a three-term academic year, while the examinations system has been revamped, says the education ministry.

DUBAI // The Ministry of Education will replace the current two-term system with a three-term academic year and has revamped its examinations system for both public and private schools that follow its curriculum.

The changes will take place with immediate effect and will be in use for the current academic year, said Humaid al Qutami, the UAE's education minister. Grades one to five will have no final exams this year and will instead have continuous assessments. Grades four and five had exams in the last academic year.

Grades six to nine will have exams in every term in Islamic studies, Arabic, English, maths and science, Mr al Qutami said. They will have continuous assessments in all other subjects.

“This is to help focus on the skills of students and help them become confident with exams,” Mr al Qutami said. “It is to remove the fear of examinations from children.”