UAE school students resume academic year on Monday

Mohammed Ibrahim, Staff Reporter / WAM

Students and teaching, administrative and technical staff of public and private schools in the UAE will resume the third term of the academic year (2023-2024) on Monday.

According to the approved school calendar for the current academic year, the term will last 11 weeks (53 school days), while the calendar has set the period from April 22-26 for announcing the results of the second term exams.

The third term is scheduled to include a trial test during the period from May 29 to June 4. During the same period, students will write exams for Group (B) subjects, and then set to the final exams of the third term from June 5 to 14.

Eid Al Adha holidays (from June 15 to 18) will be during the third term, and the results of the term’s exams will be announced on July 5, while repeat exams will be held during the period of next July 8-12, with their results being announced in the period July 13-15.

It is expected that June 14 will be the last day of the academic year for students who will start the summer vacation on July 1, while the vacation for teaching, technical, and administrative staff will begin on July 15.

A number of school principals, both public and private, affirmed their readiness to receive teachers, administrators, technicians, and students, in accordance with developments and the directives of the educational bodies in the UAE.

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has issued directives to settle the outstanding financial dues of UAE resident students registered in the country's government schools for previous years of study at a total cost of Dhs155 million.

The initiative taken by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan epitomises the values of giving rooted in the UAE community and is part of his approach to provide support to students and enhance their drive to succeed in their studies.

The initiative covers students residing in the UAE and registered in UAE government schools, where all their outstanding dues for their studies until the 2023-2024 academic year will be settled, in coordination with the Emirates Schools Establishment.

Schools in the UAE are playing a leading role in promoting sustainability concepts, increasing environmental awareness, and encouraging students to think scientifically towards achieving sustainable development. This is in line with the UAE's COP28 climate conference 2023.

These schools have presented ambitious plans to integrate sustainability concepts into their curricula, aligning with 50 per cent of the UAE schools to be 'Green Accredited' initiative. They are also providing training programmes for teachers and school administrators to enhance their ability to disseminate environmental awareness and sustainability among students.

International schools in the UAE are also contributing to elevating the level of education and environmental awareness through multidisciplinary curricula that emphasise the importance of environmental preservation and active participation in its protection.

Lin Xiuqin, a Chinese Curriculum Specialist at the UAE Ministry of Education, told reporters that the "100 Schools Project" curriculum for teaching the Chinese language includes environmental topics as an essential part of student education. This is achieved through innovative educational activities where students are introduced to vocabulary such as "sustainable development" and "environmental responsibility for all." She also pointed out that the curriculum enables students to understand the connection between daily life and environmental preservation.

Xiuqin said that the Chinese language curriculum highlights several examples focusing on the theme of "travel" to encourage students to understand the importance of green transportation and environmental conservation, such as biking instead of using cars. In another context, the importance of protecting endangered animal species like pandas and their vital role in maintaining ecological balance is emphasised.

As Chinese language education continues to expand in the UAE, the Chinese language teaching project in 100 schools is increasingly integrated into the local educational system. This project is an effective tool for promoting basic education and environmental awareness in the country.

In March, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) hosted a series of reading activities and sessions across most of its Dubai Public Library branches, coinciding with the UAE Reading Month 2024 held under the theme ‘UAE Reads’. This embodies the Authority’s commitment to supporting the National Reading Strategy 2016-2026, aimed at spreading awareness of the importance of reading and enhancing cultural values in the community.