No final exams? How UAE government school grades will be decided for term 2

Dubai: The UAE Ministry of Education (MoE) has announced an immediate shift in the academic calendar, bringing forward the spring break for all schools and universities across the Emirates. This decision comes as authorities prioritise student safety amid ongoing regional security concerns.

New spring break dates

Authorities have confirmed that the spring holiday will now begin on Monday, March 9, and run through Sunday, March 22, 2026.

The break applies to:

• All government and private schools.
• Public and private universities.
• All teaching and administrative staff.

Originally, the 2025–2026 calendar scheduled the break to start on March 16. However, following recent regional escalations involving missile and drone concerns, the government opted for an early start to ensure the well-being of the academic community.

How grades will be decided (Term 2)

With the change in schedule, the MoE has clarified how students will be evaluated for the second term:

• Government Schools: Grades will be determined based on ongoing assessments, projects, and assignments completed throughout the semester.
• Private Schools: Each institution is permitted to set its own evaluation method in line with approved academic policies. Schools are required to clearly communicate these chosen methods to both parents and students.

CBSE Board Exams postponed

In a related development, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has postponed Class 10 and 12 Board Exams scheduled for March 5 and March 6 across the Middle East.

This affects students in:

UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iran.

The CBSE stated that a review will be conducted on Thursday, March 5, to decide the status of exams scheduled from March 7 onwards. New dates for the postponed papers will be announced soon.

Prior to the spring break announcement, the UAE had already extended distance learning until Friday, March 6. This precautionary shift to online classes began on March 2 following the start of regional hostilities, allowing schools to continue education while monitoring the security situation.

Parents and students are advised to stay in close contact with their respective educational institutions for specific updates regarding the resumption of classes on March 23.