Blitz Bureau
Some UAE schools are set to replace traditional exams with skills-based evaluations for certain students.
This significant shift will see public school students in grades 5 to 8 assessed through project-based work rather than written exams during the second term of the academic year. Minister of state for public education and advanced technology Sarah Al Amiri said the new approach prioritises the practical application of knowledge, aiming to enhance students’ overall learning experience.
“These evidence-based policy updates are grounded in [the] best practice, and intend to enhance the quality of educational outcomes, in line with the UAE leadership’s aspirations,” she said.
The Minister said that this change in assessment methods is part of a cultural evolution in the UAE’s education system making sure that students’ skills are more accurately reflected when they are being evaluated.
She further highlighted that this transformation is part of a broader, gradual change within the educational framework, rather than a sudden overhaul. Al Amiri said, “The central exam for Cycle 2 students in the second term has been replaced with a project-based assessment that focuses on skill measurement, and helps students put theoretical knowledge into practice, further enriching their learning outcomes.”
Along with this change, the ministry has lowered the passing grade from 70 to 60
