UAE introduces Federal Decree Law to govern national school curriculum

Abu Dhabi: The UAE Government has taken a major step to strengthen its education system by issuing a Federal Decree Law on the Governance of the National Educational Curriculum. For the first time, the law provides a comprehensive framework regulating how the curriculum is designed, approved, implemented, and reviewed across the country.

The decree sets out an integrated governance system, clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of federal and local authorities. It aims to ensure effective coordination, transparency, accountability, and community participation in shaping the nation’s educational programmes.

The law aims to maintain a stable and consistent national curriculum while allowing flexibility to adapt to future developments, societal needs, and labour market demands. By doing so, it seeks to enhance the quality of education, strengthen the competitiveness of the sector, and prepare students to integrate effectively into both local and global economies.

The provisions apply to all public and private schools following the national curriculum, from kindergarten to Grade 12. They also extend to private schools that do not follow the national curriculum, requiring them to teach approved compulsory subjects to ensure a shared educational foundation and reinforce national identity and values.

The decree identifies the UAE’s National Education Charter as the supreme reference for education policy. The charter defines national education objectives, graduate competencies, societal values, national identity, and principles guiding curriculum design and development. It serves as the blueprint for shaping learning standards, teaching methodologies, subject content, and student outcomes across all school levels.

The decree outlines key curriculum components, including learning outcomes, teaching methods, educational pathways, language of instruction, course duration, and compulsory and elective subjects. It also provides clear mechanisms for classifying and approving curriculum changes.

Changes are divided into four categories:

The decree also allows government, private, or non-profit entities, including those in free zones, to propose curriculum amendments backed by research demonstrating alignment with national education goals, labour market needs, and societal values.

The decree clearly defines responsibilities across institutions:

Private schools that do not follow the national curriculum must still teach approved compulsory subjects under Ministry supervision, ensuring adherence to content and teacher qualifications.

This Federal Decree Law reflects the UAE’s vision of a stable, flexible, and high-quality education system. By establishing clear governance, supporting continuous improvement, and focusing on human capital development, the law positions the UAE to prepare future generations for success in a rapidly evolving world.