Education in the UAE is divided into three main categories: public schools, private schools, and higher education institutions. While quality can vary greatly, there are some very strong schooling options available in the Emirates, at every level. In public schools, school education is a constitutionally guaranteed right for all Emirati citizens. A range of private schools in the UAE offer a range of curricula, from the US, UK, or India, to the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. As a result, teaching methods vary from rote memorization and weekly testing to sporadic testing and less rigid teaching. Every Emirati child must attend school before the age of six. Students should be competent in math, science, English or Arabic, and social studies. A highly successful 97% of Emiratis graduate from secondary school. State schooling starts in 9th grade, but private schools follow different models. Both public and private schools test students throughout the school year and at the end to ensure they progress to the next grade. Public schools do not require students to pass overarching exams to meet national standards until their final year of secondary school.
