The UAE Ministry of Education has introduced a new framework for the preparation of examination papers for Students of Determination, the country's official term for students with disabilities or special educational needs. The framework, announced on 20 June 2026, establishes a structured set of regulations and standards aimed at ensuring exams are tailored to each student's individual learning needs while remaining fair and consistent across the system.
One important scope note up front: the framework currently applies to government (public) schools. Private schools are not directly covered, but the policy direction is significant for any UAE parent of a child with additional learning needs.
This article reflects the Ministry of Education's announcement of 20 June 2026 and supporting UAE press reporting. Implementation details may be updated by the Ministry closer to the start of the next academic year. Parents should confirm specific arrangements directly with their child's school.
Who the new framework applies to
The framework applies to students in government (public) schools who have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) that includes modifications to learning outcomes or curriculum content. An IEP is a personalised document developed for a student whose learning needs differ from the standard curriculum. It sets out what the student is expected to learn, what adjustments will be made to teaching, and how progress will be assessed.
Not every Student of Determination has an IEP with curriculum modifications. Some students follow the standard curriculum with classroom accommodations only. The new exam framework specifically covers those whose IEPs change what is being taught, not just how.
What changes in how exams are prepared
Under the new framework, exam papers for eligible students must be prepared in line with several principles:
- Questions must align with the learning standards set out in the student's approved IEP
- Response times may be adjusted to suit the student's needs
- Question formats may be adapted to the student's individual abilities
- Visual aids such as images and maps may be incorporated where appropriate
- Alternative assessment tools may be used to improve accessibility
- Other accommodations may be applied based on the nature and severity of the student's disability, as outlined in their IEP
The Ministry has also clarified how exam preparation will be organised. The teachers who developed a student's IEP are responsible for preparing the corresponding assessments, working in coordination with special education teachers and subject teachers. The aim is to ensure that the assessment genuinely measures what the student has learned during the term, against their own targets, rather than against a curriculum they have not been taught.
The wider inclusive education context
The new exam framework is part of the Ministry's ongoing commitment to inclusive education, which includes the continued use of Individual Education Plans, adapted teaching methods, curriculum modifications where required, and structured support through Inclusive Education Support Centres. Evaluation and diagnosis at these centres are being conducted within a 15-working-day window under updated registration procedures for 2026–27.
The Ministry's approach reflects a wider principle: that fair assessment of a child with additional learning needs is not the same as identical assessment. Identical assessment penalises differences; fair assessment recognises and adjusts for them, while still meaningfully measuring what the child has learned.
If your child is in a private school
The new framework does not directly apply to private schools, but it matters for three practical reasons:
- It signals policy direction. Private schools across the UAE typically follow the Ministry's general direction on inclusive education, even when specific federal regulations apply only to government schools. Expect private school practice to evolve in the same direction over time.
- Private schools are separately regulated by KHDA, ADEK and SPEA. Each emirate's regulator sets its own inclusion rules for private schools, and those rules continue to require adapted assessment for pupils with IEPs.
- Public schools are a real option for some families. Government schools accept expatriate students under certain conditions and at capped fees. For families with a child whose needs would be well served by the new framework, the public-school option is worth understanding.
What parents should ask their school
Whether your child is in a government school or a private school, the new framework is a useful prompt for a conversation with your school's leadership team. Practical questions to raise:
- Does my child currently have an Individual Education Plan, and if so, when was it last reviewed?
- How are exams adapted for pupils with IEPs at this school, and which teachers prepare those exams?
- What types of accommodation are routinely available (extra time, modified format, visual aids, alternative response tools)?
- How is progress against the IEP measured and reported back to parents?
- For private school parents: what is the school's policy framework for inclusion, and how does it intersect with KHDA, ADEK or SPEA guidance?
The Ministry's framework, even applied only in government schools at this stage, sets a useful benchmark for what good practice in inclusive assessment looks like in the UAE.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is considered a Student of Determination in the UAE?
The term "Students of Determination" is the UAE's official designation for students with disabilities or additional learning needs. It includes a wide range of conditions, with eligibility and specific support determined through evaluation and, where required, an Individual Education Plan.
Does the new exam framework apply to private schools?
No. The Ministry of Education's framework applies to government (public) schools. Private schools in the UAE are regulated separately by KHDA in Dubai, ADEK in Abu Dhabi and SPEA in Sharjah, each of which sets its own inclusion and assessment requirements.
What is an Individual Education Plan (IEP)?
An IEP is a personalised document for a student whose learning needs differ from the standard curriculum. It sets out adjusted learning outcomes, teaching approaches, and assessment methods tailored to that student's abilities.
What kind of exam accommodations are allowed under the new framework?
Permitted accommodations include questions aligned with the IEP's learning standards, adjusted response times, adapted question formats, visual aids such as images and maps, alternative assessment tools, and other accommodations based on the nature and severity of the student's disability.
Who prepares the adapted exam papers?
The teachers who developed the student's IEP are responsible for preparing the corresponding exam papers, working in coordination with special education teachers and subject teachers at the school.
