The UAE Ministry of Education (MoE) has changed the admission age for new students enrolling in FS1 or Pre-KG in private schools throughout the country. Hence, youngsters enrolling in FS1 or Pre-KG in schools starting in September must be three years old on or before August 31 of that year. Children joining Pre-KG in schools beginning in April must be three years old on or before 31 March of that year.
Children enrolling in FS2 or KG1 must be four years old on or before 31 August for schools commencing in September, while children enrolling in KG1 in schools beginning in April must be four years old on or before 31 March. Similarly, youngsters enrolling in Year 1 or KG2 must be five years old on or before 31 August for schools beginning in September. Children registering in KG2 in schools starting in April must be five years old on or before 31 March.
The new reforms will affect children up to six years old
The MoE resolution specifies that all pupils currently registered at private schools in the UAE are not affected by the change. This includes students who enrol for the final term of the 2020/21 academic year.
For schools that commence in September, this new rule will be applicable from the start of the 2021/22 academic year in September 2021. For schools that begin in April, the change will be applicable from the start of the 2022/23 academic year in April 2022.
Pupils currently registered at private schools in the UAE are not affected by the change
According to Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), the decision was made to bring added consistency to the cut-off dates adopted by schools in the UAE with those used by schools overseas.
The new reforms will affect children up to six years old who enrol in school for the first time.
The KHDA said that the parents whose children are affected by the new cut-off dates and who have already paid deposits for their children’s enrolment are entitled to a refund if they wish.
