Indian curriculum UAE schools shift exams online, change dates
While some Indian curriculum schools in the UAE have moved certain assessments online, others are considering students’ cumulative performance, principals had said.
Sharjah, on the other hand, pushed back the start of its new academic year by a week. “Schools, which were scheduled to reopen on Monday, 23 March, will now resume on Monday, 30 March," the Indian school heads in the emirate confirmed on Thursday.
Most other curricula complete exams for the school year and begin a new session around May, while Indian schools usually finish theirs by completing Term 3 examinations — where a student is promoted to the next grade in April.
The UAE Ministry of Education last week announced details of spring break that included a move from April to March 9-22, which several Indian schools have indicated will now closely align with their year-end schedule and alleviate concerns around disruption.
For teachers and students in CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) and CISCE (Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations) schools, this time is more than just a vacation — it is the end of months spent preparing for finals.
“We had requested SPEA to provide us an additional time as the end of the academic year requires a lot of logistical work such as compilation and submission of results, along with orientations for parents,” said Dr Arogya Reddy, Principal Ambassador School Sharjah. These processes take time and something else — careful planning. There is also the Eid break in between.
Beginning Monday, March 9, schools at least had limited access, with a maximum of 15 staff allowed on campus. So, the extension is only a week and in Sharjah, where we are off on Friday, so in effect, it has been re-extended to just four days more.’
Striking a balance between exams and wellbeing
School leaders say their focus stays on finding a balance between academic integrity and student wellbeing in this transitional stage.
At GEMS Modern Academy, the communication to parents and students has been clear and reassuring.
The Principal, CEO, Gems Modern Academy & EVP, Education, Gems Education said: “In the recent meeting held by Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) with school leaders reaffirmed the educational approach of UAE is perfectly balanced that values academia rigour along with student wellbeing.
But flexibility has been the name of the game since many CBSE and CISCE schools are nearing the end of their academic cycle. Others may be calculated on the basis of cumulative performance, while some assessments have gone online.
“In cases when some assessments remain, schools have been provided the flexibility to either conduct these online or award cumulative scores based on previous performance with robust safeguards for authenticity and integrity,” she added.
That adaptability has offered reassurance to families grappling with changing schedules. As she stressed, “Ultimately, the UAE’s education vision reminds us that real student success depends on both achievement and wellbeing.”
Seamless transition to new academic rhythm
School companies in Ajman say the Ministry’s announcement of spring break coincides naturally with the Indian academic calendar.
Dr Prema Muralidhar, Principal of The Royal Academy Ajman, said the dates “rationally fit within what schools on Indian curriculum recognise as the end-of-year break”.
CBSE schools, she said, follow an April-to-March cycle so this phase “culminates the ongoing academic year while educational institutions are also gearing up for next session from April 2026 to March 2027.”
At her school, students were already halfway through their summative assessments when learning transitioned briefly online. “It is like a continuous movement of wheels, the transition to online mode was accomplished in no time ensuring continuity through structured revision sessions and seamless conduction of examinations,” she said.
Though some assessments still await, staggered schedules have been arranged to uphold “fairness, credibility and academic integrity,” allowing students to complete their studies “on a confident and positive note.”
“We are working in conformity with official guidelines,” said Bhanu Sharma, Principal of Woodlem Park School Ajman. “After the UAE Ministry of Education announced that spring break for all public and private schools will take place from 9 March to 22 March, Indian curriculum schools under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) are adapting their schedule according to directives set out by the authorities and we shall wait for further communication from them if it applies to Indian curriculum schools.”
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