Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
In a landmark policy shift, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has announced a new policy under which all young learners enrolled into Pre-KG to KG2 classes will receive 240 minutes per week of structured, age-appropriate Arabic instruction.
The announcement marks a major step in ADEK’s broader vision to instil strong Arabic language foundations early in a child’s educational journey.
In a statement, the ADEK said the weekly allocation will rise to 300 minutes in the 2026–2027 academic year, ensuring that children receive sustained and immersive exposure to the language at the most critical stage of their development.
The newly introduced ADEK School KG Arabic Curriculum Policy is designed to support both native Arabic speakers and children encountering the language for the first time. The dual-track system offers one curriculum for native speakers aimed at deepening their mother tongue proficiency, and another for non-native speakers, tailored to support early exposure and foundational comprehension.
“This is about more than just adding Arabic lessons,” said Mariam Al Hallami, Executive Director of Early Education at ADEK.
“It’s about giving every child in Abu Dhabi the gift of language, identity, and connection starting from day one. We want Arabic to feel natural, interactive and alive in every classroom and every home.”
According to ADEK, the Arabic learning experience will be enriched through storytelling, songs, play, and hands-on activities, shifting away from rote memorisation to a more engaging, student-friendly model. Teachers will be specially trained and supported with modern educational materials to ensure that Arabic becomes a language children look forward to using daily.
The rationale behind the new policy stems from clear evidence that early language acquisition is most effective in young children. ADEK’s recent surveys indicate that although Arabic is widely spoken in homes across Abu Dhabi, many children still lack confidence in using the language fluently and naturally. The department sees this initiative as an opportunity to bridge the gap between home and school, anchoring the next generation in their linguistic heritage and fostering a lifelong connection to Arabic.
“This policy bridges the gap between Arabic learning in nurseries and the formal instruction that begins in Cycle 1 under the Ministry of Education framework,” the department said. By reinforcing continuity in language exposure from nursery through early schooling, ADEK aims to ensure a smooth and steady development path for all learners.
Parents will also play a central role in the implementation of the policy. Schools will be encouraged to collaborate closely with families, providing tools and updates that enable parents to practise new vocabulary with their children at home, participate in Arabic-themed events, and reinforce language learning as part of everyday life.
The policy falls under ADEK’s wider ambition to make Arabic not simply a subject of study, but a living, evolving part of a child’s daily environment.
