No homework, less screen time: Which UAE students will benefit from 2026-27 academic year policy changes
Dubai: If your child is starting kindergarten, grade 1 or grade 2 in public schools and private schools managed by the Ministry of Education this year, there will be no homework in their school bag when the new academic year begins on August 31. The Ministry of Education (MoE) has scrapped homework for these age groups, while a separate move to cut classroom screen time is expanding to all grade…
Dubai: Starting in the 2026-27 academic year, pupils entering kindergarten, grade 1, or grade 2 in both public and private schools governed by the Ministry of Education will not receive any homework. This change is part of a wider effort to reduce screen time and encourage learning without pressure. The Ministry of Education (MoE) announced these policy changes at a press conference in Dubai, emphasizing that children learn better, behave better, and get along with less screen time.
For older students, the MoE is reducing classroom screen time for grade 6 students across all subjects. Education researchers have long argued that heavy homework loads add little value for young learners and can lead to burnout, so the ministry is replacing worksheets with daily reading at home to build early literacy and language skills.
This approach is aimed at helping children develop a lifelong love of learning, rather than a nightly chore.
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