Basic education in the education system in the United Arab Emirates

Both primary and secondary education are free and compulsory in public schools in the UAE for both boys and girls from the age of 5 years and above, including expatriate resident students. Arabic is the official language of instruction. At the pre-secondary level, equal emphasis is placed on the English language. Education is free for all UAE nationals up to the age of 18.

Stages of education in the United Arab Emirates :

The education system of the Ministry of Education in the United Arab Emirates is characterized by high flexibility, methodological diversity, and full educational opportunities for children in the compulsory education stage, illiterate people, adults, and the disabled. Education there is compulsory for everyone who has reached the age of 6 years and continues until the age of 18 or the end of education in general. It is known that education is completely free at all levels for all students who are citizens and partially for the children of non-citizen workers. In the government sector in the country. As for schools in the Emirates, they are divided into three categories:

•       Public schools
•       Private schools
•       Higher education institutions

Chinese schools and their relationship to basic education in the education system in the Emirates:

The Chinese and Emirati governments have been working to enhance exchanges to consolidate friendly relations between the two countries and integrate cultures between the two countries. The steps have begun with the launch of a Chinese language teaching project in 200 Emirati schools. The Dubai China International School, the first Chinese government school abroad, the Yas Emirates School and the Hamdan Bin Zayed Emirates School have been established to conduct exchange activities.

The stages of education in the United Arab Emirates are divided into 4 stages:

Kindergarten stage -KG1-KG2: from 3 to 5 years

Studying at this stage is not compulsory and students under the appropriate age for admission to the first year of general education are accepted. Students spend an enjoyable time there and acquire multiple skills, whether social, linguistic or physical.

Primary or foundation stage (first cycle of basic education): from 6 to 11 years old

This stage includes grades one to four, and English is used in all primary schools. The curriculum for the first cycle of basic education aims to study the subjects of Arabic language, Islamic education, social studies, English language, mathematics, science, design and technology, arts, physical and health education, and also directed free activity.

Episode 1 Chinese Language Schools:

As for the curriculum in Chinese schools, the difference from government schools is only in the total number of e-learning classes, which are 5 classes in government schools compared to 7 classes in Chinese schools.

Educational outcomes of the first cycle:

•       The student acquires a set of basic skills that enable him to read correctly, fluently and accurately.
•       The student also has the skill and linguistic background that enables him to understand Arabic and English terms when reading and translating them.
•       The student also has good morals and uses them in his relationships inside and outside the school.
•       The student acquires the ability to express himself and speak fluently.
•       The student becomes able to solve complex problems and mathematical operations.
•       The student can deal with modern electronic programming methods.
•       The student uses his/her arithmetic knowledge to solve numerical mathematical problems.
•       The student can design applied projects using his linguistic and artistic skills in an integrated and comprehensive manner.
•       The student deals with a set of values ​​and ethical principles that he acquired during that stage with his colleagues and teachers inside and outside the school.
•       The student uses his scientific knowledge and skills to maintain his health and physical fitness.

Intermediate stage (second cycle of basic education): from 12 to 15 years old:

After completing the primary stage, students move to the second stage after completing basic education or the intermediate preparatory stage. Which starts from the sixth grade to the ninth grade,

The school day at this stage lasts about six hours a day and students are divided into two groups, a morning group and an evening group. The school year starts from September to August of the following year. Attendance is mandatory for all students and they must commit to attending classes daily. After completing this stage, all students become eligible to join the secondary stage or the third cycle.

Curriculum for the second cycle of basic education:

The curriculum at this stage consists of 5 parts.

Basic curriculum:

The student studies the subjects of Arabic language and literature, moral education, social studies, Islamic education, English language, mathematics and science, physical and health education, design and technology, Islamic studies, arts and music, and directed free activity. The number of school learning classes is 30 classes per week, the total number of e-learning classes is 10 classes per week, and the smart learning class is 40 classes per week. The time duration of each class is 45 minutes.

Curriculum for third language schools:

The student studies the same subjects that students study in primary schools, but the difference is in studying the third language in addition to English. The number of school learning classes is 30 classes per week, the total number of e-learning classes is 13 classes per week, and the smart learning class is 43 classes per week. The time duration for each class is 45 minutes.

Curriculum - Cycle 2 Chinese Language Schools:

Here, the Chinese language is added to the other previous subjects, in addition to the English language. The number of school learning classes is 30 classes per week, the total number of e-learning classes is 10 classes per week, and the smart learning classes are 40 classes per week. The time duration for each class is 45 minutes.

Curriculum - Second Cycle Elite Track:

The number of subjects studied by students in this track is 10 subjects, like the previous subjects in the rest of the stages, except for the moral education subject. The number of school learning classes is 30 classes per week, the total number of e-learning classes is 14 classes per week, and the smart learning class is 44 classes per week. The time duration for each class is 45 minutes.

Curriculum - Second Cycle Elite Track - Chinese Language Schools:

The student in the elite track in Chinese schools studies the same subjects as in the elite track in addition to the Chinese language, so the number of subjects becomes 11. The number of school learning classes for each subject is 30 classes, and for e-learning, the number of classes for each grade is 16 classes per week. As for the total number of classes for smart learning, their number is about 46 classes per week, and the duration of the class is 45 minutes.

Learning outcomes of the second cycle:

•         Apply analytical skills and understand what lies behind words and texts by distinguishing between different opinions and ideas.
•         Employing electronic programming skills and concepts in design based on the basics of design and innovation
•         Applying mathematical information to overcome problems and complex mathematical operations and relying on it in designing integrated projects.
•         Adopting the principle of experiments and discoveries in dealing with scientific materials and employing this information in dealing in a way that preserves the environment and its various components and elements.
•         At the end of this stage, the student will be able to link knowledge to the different texts he produces.
•         The student’s ability to deal with his surroundings and those in the same field and academic and practical level also appears at the end of this stage.
•         The student also has excellent presentation skills.
•         Students have the ability to interact and deal with different life situations that show the extent of growth in the student’s personality, ideas and vision.
•         The student shows loyalty and belonging to his country, faith and religion.
•         The student's adherence to his customs and traditions is clearly evident.
•         The student is certain that he has a major role in the renaissance and development of the country.

Upper secondary stage (third cycle): from 16 to 18 years old:

The secondary education stage includes Grades 9 to 12 correspond to level 3 in the ISCED system. Once this stage is completed, the student is awarded the secondary school certificate, which means completion of 12 years of compulsory education. Students who complete their education in technical secondary school are awarded the secondary technical diploma.

The UAE government and people are always looking forward to enhancing the level of teaching advanced science and technology, and strengthening and enhancing the system of continuous learning in an integrated and integrated manner. The state and government also seek to raise minds that are completely open to the vision and experiences of advanced countries by teaching the history and civilizations of those countries and teaching other new languages ​​such as Korean. Japanese and also Chinese . Looking at the Emirati experience, we find a clear picture in which students’ talents are discovered and students are enabled to be in environments that nurture their individual talents from the beginning of the early stages of study.