UAE revamps high school streams to aid students’ career goals

Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Education has announced significant updates to the educational streams for Cycle 3 students in public and private schools that follow the national curriculum.
Beginning in the 2025–2026 academic year, the educational streams have been redesigned to align with students’ future aspirations, Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education, announced during a media briefing held at the ministry's headquarters in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
This restructuring follows extensive field studies involving education professionals, parents, and a detailed analysis of student trends in recent years.
Al Amiri explained that the Ministry has redesigned the educational streams to support students’ academic pathways and better prepare them for future labour market dynamics.

Educational streams

She stated that the Ministry has focused on aligning curricula within the two revised streams. In the General Stream, students will study the fundamentals of scientific subjects, helping to refine their skills and talents. Meanwhile, the Advanced Stream will place greater emphasis on advanced science subjects, preparing students for university-level studies in scientific disciplines.
The Advanced Stream is designated for students interested in fields such as medicine, engineering, pharmacy, and advanced sciences. This stream focuses on strengthening students’ competencies in subjects like physics, chemistry, and biology.

Al Amiri noted that students entering Grade 9 in the coming academic year, and each year thereafter, will be able to select subjects based on their interests. The Ministry will provide comprehensive guidance plans and manuals for students and parents in coordination with academic counseling teams to help them make informed decisions. One of the criteria for enrollment in the Advanced Stream is achieving a minimum of 80% in English, Mathematics, and Science.

Quality over quantity

Al Amiri emphasised that the Ministry is prioritising “quality over quantity” at this stage. She reaffirmed that the student is at the centre of the educational process and confirmed that students in Grades 11 and 12 will have the opportunity to switch between streams based on their evolving needs and aspirations.
She also stated that the updates maintain elective subjects within the Advanced Stream and include a variety of courses in the General Stream, with differences in the depth of content to cater to the distinct needs of each student group.

Workshops and manuals

Additionally, the Ministry plans to launch a series of detailed workshops for students and parents, as well as provide specialised manuals to teachers and academic counsellors to ensure a smooth and accurate implementation of these changes. Private educational institutions accredited by the Ministry will also be included in the training and implementation processes.

Al Amiri noted that the Ministry has also reviewed the outcomes of Cycle 2 to ensure alignment with the coming transitions as students move into high school, indicating that further developments will be introduced with the start of the new academic year.

Academic planning

The minister reassured that the current updates will not affect the academic plans of current Grade 11 and 12 students. She revealed that Grade 12 students in the General Stream may replace Physics with one of the other subjects specified in the Ministry’s guidance manual. The Ministry has also stressed the importance of Grade 8 students selecting a stream aligned with their university ambitions and has outlined the criteria and registration process for the Advanced Stream.

She stated: “With this update, students in the Advanced Stream will be able to pursue university studies in fields such as engineering, medicine, pharmacy, and various sciences, in addition to other specialisations. Meanwhile, students in the General Stream will be able to pursue studies in humanities, business administration, law, arts, social sciences, and police sciences.”

Ensuring smooth transition

The Ministry highlighted that these updates were developed in coordination with higher education institutions across the UAE to ensure a smooth transition for students from general education to higher education and eventually into the labour market.

The Ministry has issued a set of academic guidelines and directives to support educational staff in helping students build their academic plans and select the stream best suited to their aspirations. These directives ensure alignment with higher education entry standards and include a detailed guidance manual for students and parents. The role of academic advisors will be activated to provide essential support and counselling to students during this transition.