A Guide To The K-12 Education System in the UAE | EWmums.com
 

A Guide To The K-12 Education System in the UAE

What are the school years for different ages in the UAE? We take a look

Posted on

11 October 2017

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A Guide To The K-12 Education System in the UAE

If you’re moving anytime soon to Dubai, or already living in the UAE with kids, you might be wondering what the education system of the country is like, as it might differ from your home country.

The education system in the UAE (K-12) is overseen by the Ministry of Education, and is followed by most schools in the country.

Compulsory education in the UAE starts from grade 1, and includes all of primary and secondary school levels - up to the 9th grade (from ages 6 to 17). And here’s a guide to school years in Dubai and the UAE:

Kindergarten (ages 4-5)

Enrolling your kids in kindergarten is voluntary in the UAE, and it consists of two levels:

  • Kindergarten 1 (KG1)
  • Kindergarten 2 (KG2)
  • Primary School (ages 6-11)

  • Grades 1-6
  • Middle School/preparatory (ages 11-15)

  • Grades 7-9
  • Secondary School (ages 15-18)

  • Grades 10-12
  • A certificate or diploma is awarded upon graduation (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)
  • Vocational/technical secondary school (ages 12-18)

  • From 10th grade
  • A certificate or diploma is awarded upon graduation (Technical Secondary Diploma)
  • Tertiary education

  • Enrolling in colleges or higher education institutions isn’t age specified in the UAE.
  • Please Note That

    The aforementioned might slightly differ for Indian, Pakistani, and Japanese curriculum schools, as their school year runs from April to March, while other curricula school years run from September to June.