The Ministry of Education has announced updates to educational pathways for third-cycle students, effective from the 2025-2026 academic year, focusing on aligning curricula with future student aspirations and job market requirements.

The Ministry of Education has announced significant updates to the educational pathways for third-cycle students in public schools and private institutions adopting the ministry’s curriculum, starting from the 2025-2026 academic year. This decision follows comprehensive field studies involving educational specialists and parents, alongside an analysis of student trends over the past years.
The announcement was made during a press conference held at the Ministry of Education headquarters in Abu Dhabi, attended by Engineer Mohammed Al Qasim, Undersecretary of the Ministry, along with various ministry officials and representatives from national media outlets.
The Minister emphasized that the ministry has redesigned the educational pathways to align with future student aspirations, thereby supporting their university journeys and enhancing their abilities to adapt to the evolving job market. She noted that the updates will ensure the curricula are aligned, enabling general track students to study the fundamentals of scientific subjects, which will refine their skills and talents. Meanwhile, the advanced track will focus on advanced science subjects, preparing students for scientific fields in higher education.
The ministry reassured that these updates will not impact the academic plans of current students in grades 11 and 12. Additionally, it revealed that 12th-grade students in the general track have the option to replace physics with one of the alternative subjects outlined in the ministerial guide. It also underlined the importance of 8th-grade students selecting a pathway that reflects their university ambitions, providing guidance and conditions for enrolling in the advanced track.
As a result of these updates, students in the advanced track will be able to pursue university studies in fields such as engineering, medicine, pharmacy, and various sciences, while general track students will focus on humanities, business administration, law, arts, social sciences, and policing.
The ministry indicated that these updates were developed following communication and coordination with several higher education institutions in the country, ensuring a smooth transition from general education to university and subsequently into the workforce.
Furthermore, the ministry has disseminated guidelines within the academic plan for the education sector to aid educators in providing students with a comprehensive view of building their study plans and selecting the appropriate educational path. This also ensures alignment with the standards for higher education eligibility, alongside the issuance of a guide for parents and students that details these updates, while also activating the role of academic advisors in offering support and guidance to students.