A member of the Federal National Council (FNC), Saeed Al Aabdi, has raised concerns about the current school age cut-off policy in the UAE, which has led to enrollment delays for children born just after the August 31 deadline. Parents of these children, particularly those born in October and November, are finding it difficult to enroll their kids in either schools or nurseries. This policy, which mandates that children be at least four years old by August 31 to enter kindergarten, has left many children in a situation where they are either too young for formal schooling or too old for preschool.
Al Aabdi, representing Ras Al Khaimah, questioned the fairness of the rule, urging the Ministry of Education to introduce a three-month exception to the cut-off date. He pointed out that this policy, which was based on a 2021 ministerial decision, did not account for the fact that many children in the UAE are born in October and November. He emphasized that such strict age requirements are causing unnecessary hardships for parents, especially when similar policies in countries like the UK allow for exceptions.
FNC Speaker Saqr Ghobash also shared his personal experience with age-based school admissions, suggesting that pragmatic solutions, such as independent evaluations, could be considered. Minister Sarah Al Amiri defended the policy, stating that it was based on academic evaluations, but agreed to consider the issue further. Al Aabdi emphasized the social and financial implications for families, including the added financial burden of hiring nannies for an additional year and the potential for bullying once children are finally enrolled.
