UAE announces 40-minute mandatory Arabic classes daily for KG students in private schools

UAE approved mandatory Arabic classes at the kindergarten stage for all private schools, for a duration of 200 minutes per week (40 minutes per day).

Islamic Studies will also be taught to all Muslim kindergarten students for 90 minutes per week, the Ministry of Education announced. This may take the form of three 30-minute lessons or two 45-minute lessons per week. 

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In addition, the authority has approved mandatory guidelines for teaching social studies in kindergarten. These include play-based instruction approach, both inside and outside the classroom.

Classes must incorporate concepts of family, UAE geography, UAE environment, social values, and wider social studies into the kindergarten curriculum.

These mandatory classes and guidelines will be implemented from the 2025-2026 academic year and will apply to all private schools in the UAE, across all approved curricula. 

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From the 2027-2028 academic year, Arabic language classes will increase to 60 minutes per day.

The Ministry said it will provide private schools with instructional frameworks and clear learning outcomes for all three subject areas before the start of the 2025/2026 academic year, along with advisory visits to private schools. 

The Ministry will also conduct regular inspections starting from the 2026-2027 academic year to verify compliance, in partnership with local educational authorities.

Poojaraj Maniyeri

pooja@khaleejtimes.com

Poojaraj Maniyeri is a Digital Journalist who loves turning everyday conversations into news stories. She is also a typical bookworm, and brings a novel with her everywhere she goes.