UAE's 12th grade students no longer have to sit for Emsat

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research have announced the cancellation of the Emirates Standardised Test (Emsat) for the 12th grade students, effective immediately.

This decision was made in order to grant universities greater flexibility in determining admission criteria, allowing them to attract students according to their academic and professional aspirations. This new policy has been approved by the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council.

The decision is part of a wider effort to develop the national education system and prepare students for university education and the labour market. This is done in accordance with the best practices and standards that are currently in place, and in a manner that is consistent with the needs of society and future aspirations.

Sarah Bint Yousef Al Amiri, Minister of Education, stated that the Ministry is continuously striving to align and develop its policies in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in a manner that facilitates students' educational pursuits at various stages of study, whether at the general or higher education level.

This is achieved through the implementation of decisions that are capable of addressing any procedures that ensure the quality and flexibility of the output of the national educational system, thereby promoting its progress and leadership at the global level.

In this context, she highlighted the Ministry's commitment to fostering and nurturing students' competencies across a range of academic disciplines. To this end, the Ministry has recently updated its student performance measurement system, which is designed to accurately gauge and enhance students' abilities. This updated system will enable the Ministry to ascertain the true extent of students' capabilities and tailor their development in accordance with a meticulously researched methodology that allows for comprehensive assessment and optimal refinement of their skills.

She explained that, in accordance with the resolution and in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the EmSat will no longer be a prerequisite for the admission of twelfth-grade students into higher education. It will be sufficient to meet the requirements of higher education institutions and the conditions they set regarding the admission of students into them.

Furthermore, she emphasised the necessity of aligning policies across all relevant parties to facilitate a seamless transition for students into higher education and to provide them with the requisite support to achieve their future aspirations in a manner that is consistent with the demands of the labour market and society.

In his remarks, Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, underscored the Ministry's objective of enhancing students' access to higher education. This initiative aims to ensure that every twelfth-grade graduate has the opportunity to pursue bachelor's, higher diploma, diploma, or skills certificate programmes, thereby equipping them with the requisite skills for the labour market.

He further noted that the novel vision will afford universities augmented flexibility in determining admission criteria, thereby enabling them to attract students who have not met the English language requirement by enrolling them in courses that will qualify them to attain the requisite proficiency. Furthermore, universities will be permitted to enrol students in specialised remedial courses should they fail to attain the requisite grade in the subjects necessary for pursuing the specialization.

Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar also pointed out that the admission criteria for medical and engineering specialisations will place greater emphasis on the grades achieved in scientific subjects relevant to the specialisation, rather than on the overall percentage in the twelfth grade. He further noted that the proposals to develop the criteria for accepting students into universities are designed to provide diverse academic pathways that align with the capabilities of students and are linked to the needs of the labour market. The objective is to produce generations of specialists and professionals who are equipped to compete effectively in the labour market in both the public and private sectors, he added.