UAE scraps homework for some public school students

Public schools students from Kindergarten to Grade 2 will not be given homework in the new academic year. 

Making the announcement, the Ministry of Education (MoE) said the move is aimed to "enhance quality of learning during the school day" and achieve "a better balance between learning and family life".

Schools will instead focus on improving "daily reading routines at home", with selected students encouraged to read alongside their parents at least once per day after school, and to help "develop linguistic and cognitive skills" in early childhood.

Ahead of the 2026/27 academic year starting on Monday August 31, more than 1,277,000 students are expected to be attending 1,180 public and private schools across the UAE, with 26,700 new students starting at public schools.

More than eight million textbooks have already been distributed, while 5,810 school buses have been checked and assessed ahead of being on the roads to transport students.

Additionally, more than 80 training programmes will be available for educators across the academic year.

The MoE say say the theme of this academic year is "building for tomorrow", with further assessments taking place on the use of digital tools in education and their efficiency and effectiveness.