UAE Age Cut-Off Changes for April-Start Schools
After years of nervous waiting for clarity on when their children can start school, the UAE’s new age cut-off has come as a big relief to many families — but for parents looking at Indian curriculum schools, the message is clear: nothing changes.
The policy however, does not alter Indian schools will continue following their traditional April 1 to March 31 academic year due to which admissions rules are unchanged and other conditions remain as they were.
As Meena Menon, Primary Section Supervisor, clarifies, the amended rule — which ‘gives children born between September and December the opportunity to start school earlier... by extending its cut-off date up to December 31‘ — applies in schools which function with September as part of their intake.
No impact on admissions
For Indian curriculum schools, she said, “nothing changes for them” – These are institutions that still follow an academic year April to March and the age cut-off will stay March 31. In practice it means children born after that date will still “join school in the next academic year”, as they did before.
This continuity is intentional, say education experts.
Indian schools in the UAE replicate admission norms in India, and any revision to the cut-off may cause havoc with regard to grade-placement, board requirements and transfers—especially those of families frequently shuttling between both countries.
By keeping the status quo in place, Menon provides parents with “clarity, consistency and smoother transitions”, even as the UAE’s system as a whole makes changes.
And for transfers — sense there are going to be a whole lot of them, from around the world and between schools and curricula here in New York City — kids would be placed in grades based on the last grade completed.
Schools will manage processes of equivalency and assessment according to their respective approved procedures to ratify continuity and avoid any potential interruption in the child’s learning.
Dr Sharafudeen Thanikatt, principal of Crescent English High School welcomes the overall intentions of the policy, he says that the change is “definitely a positive move toward child-centred education” and that with the appropriate early years support it can help children transition into school in a way that’s “far less stressful for both children and parents”.
Schools offer guidance to parents
Meanwhile, while the revised school age cut-off of the UAE may ease Early Years entry for September-born infants in international curricula schools, Indian curriculum schools are guiding parents on long-term implications for senior board exams.
Springdales School, Dubai Principal David Jones said: “The new UAE cut-off is a welcome move in the EYFS (Early Years) to prevent September-born children from being ‘in no man’s land’. It is absolutely right that the emphasis has moved from fixed dates to readiness, welfare and continuity in learning.”
He added, “We have given clear directions to parents about the long-term implications, specifically for future board admissions at Grades 10 and 12 where Indian age norms still apply.”
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