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The UAE offers free education to all male and female citizens from kindergarten to university. There is also an extensive private education sector, while several thousand students, of both sexes, pursue courses of higher education abroad at Government expense. Education at primary and secondary level is universal and compulsory up to ninth grade. This takes place in a four-tier process over 14 years, from 4 to 18.
Emiratisation of teaching staff in government schools is scheduled to reach 90 per cent by 2020. However, over 40 per cent of pupils attend private schools, some of which offer foreign language education geared towards expatriate communities, usually preserving the culture and following the curriculum of the students' countries of origin. The UAE has established an excellent and diversified system of higher education.
Citizens can attend government institutions free of charge and a wide range of private institutions, many with international accreditation, supplement the public sector.
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The country now has one of the highest application participation rates in the world. Ninety-five per cent of all females and 80 per cent of all males who are enrolled in the final year of secondary school apply for admission to a higher education institution or to study abroad.
Although the UAE has achieved much in the field of education, there is a real awareness that constant updating of policy and continual investment in infrastructure is required to ensure that graduates are properly equipped to enter the work force and assist in the country’s development.
To this end, the Ministry of Education has produced a policy document outlining a strategy for further educational development in the UAE up to the year 2020, based on several five-year plans. www.education.gov.ae .
Breakdown of the education system
Primary and secondary education is provided for all UAE citizens. The existing educational structure, which was established in the early 1970s, is a four-tier system covering 14 years of education.
Kindergarten
Age level from: 4 to: 5 years old
Primary
Length of programme in years: 6
Age level from: 6 to: 12
Preparatory
Length of programme in years: 3
Age level from: 12 to: 15
Secondary
Length of programme in years: 3
Age level from: 15 to: 18
Certificate/diploma awarded: Secondary School Leaving Certificate
Technical Secondary School
Length of programme in years: 6
Age level from: 12 to: 18
Certificate/diploma awarded: Technical Secondary Diploma
Primary school education is compulsory for all UAE citizens. Government policy is to provide staff/student ratios of 1:20 at kindergarten and primary levels; and 1:15 at intermediate and secondary levels. The existing staff/student ratios are well within this proposed range.
Higher Education
Higher Colleges of Technology were established in 1988. Located in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Al Ain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah, these colleges prepare nationals for professional and technological careers in both government and private sectors. Since their foundation, the colleges have grown significantly, with staff and students increasing by about 30 per cent each year.
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