UAE cancels EmSAT for grade 12, grants universities flexibility in admissions – UAE

• Sara Al Amiri: The decision reflects the Ministry’s commitment to providing an educational environment that promotes the development of students and prepares them for the academic and professional future.
• Abdulrahman Al-Awar: The decision underlines the ministry’s commitment to broadening academic opportunities for students.

The UAE Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research have announced the cancellation of the UAE’s standardized test “EmSAT” for Grade 12 students, with immediate effect, giving universities more flexibility in determining their own admission criteria to attract students who match their education. academic and career goals. This decision was approved by the Education, Human Development and Community Council.

This step is part of ongoing efforts to improve the national education system and prepare students for higher education and the labor market by adopting best practices and standards that meet societal needs and future aspirations.

Her Excellency Sara Al Amiri, Minister of Education, emphasized that the Ministry, in coordination with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, is continuously working to fine-tune and improve its policies to support students in their educational journey at all levels, both in in general as in general. or higher education. The Ministry is committed to decisions that ensure the quality and flexibility of outcomes of the national education system, thereby enhancing progress and global leadership.

In this regard, Her Excellency emphasized the Ministry’s focus on developing students’ skills in various subjects and on accurately assessing and improving these skills through an updated student performance assessment system. This system will enable the Ministry to identify students’ actual skill levels and improve them through a structured methodology that allows comprehensive measurement and refinement of their skills.

She also clarified that, pursuant to this decision and in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the EmSAT will no longer be required for Grade 12 students as part of the higher education admission criteria. Students are only required to meet the entry requirements set by individual higher education institutions, ensuring a smooth transition to higher education and supporting students in achieving their future academic and career goals, tailored to the needs of the labor market and society.

Furthermore, Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, His Excellency Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, the ministry’s vision to expand students’ access to higher education, enabling every Grade 12 graduate to obtain a bachelor’s degree, higher diploma, diploma or skills certification. programs that adequately prepare them for the labor market.

Dr. Al Awar explained that the new vision provides universities with greater flexibility in setting admission standards, allowing institutions to enroll students who may not meet the English language requirement by enrolling them in courses that will help them achieve the necessary proficiency. Universities will also have the option to admit students to remedial courses in cases where students have not achieved the required grades in subjects essential to the intended field.

He noted that entry requirements for medical and engineering fields will place greater emphasis on subject-specific grades rather than general Grade 12 scores. The proposal to develop university admission standards aims to offer diverse academic pathways that match students’ capabilities and meet labor market demands, graduating generations of qualified professionals ready to compete effectively in both the public as the private sector.

Dr. Al Awar also noted that both the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Ministry of Education are working to implement flexibility in their educational policies and requirements for the admission of students into various academic pathways, thereby opening up new avenues of excellence for students that align with the UAE’s ambitions to equip its workforce with top knowledge and skills. The ministry will communicate with universities to share details about this new phase and keep them informed of the latest developments.

The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research urge students and their families to familiarize themselves with the admission requirements of each university based on their chosen field of study. Direct communication with higher education institutions is recommended to understand these requirements in accordance with applicable regulations. The cancellation of the EmSAT will not affect equivalency requirements for private school curricula, except for curricula that follow the U.S. curriculum, in which students must take alternative standardized tests, such as the SAT for math and TOEFL for English, to meet admissions criteria. to fulfil. .

Following this, the Ministry of Education updated the certificate equivalency requirements for private school students, after canceling the EmSAT for grade 12. These requirements include providing academic certificates from the last three years of study, making Arabic language studies mandatory for Arab students in their last three years, and requiring Islamic studies for Muslim students in private schools for the last three years. This decision is in line with the UAE’s efforts to strengthen the status of the Arabic language and reaffirm tolerant religious values.

Both ministries confirmed that this move is in line with the leadership’s ambitions for the education sector and the crucial role it plays in developing a positive framework that turns challenges into opportunities and equips students with the skills and competencies needed to contribute to the country’s future growth and prosperity. .

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