The UAE has introduced a new policy for student attendance for the 2025-2026 academic year, as announced by the Ministry of Education on Monday, September 1.
According to the updated rules, a warning will be issued one day after an unexcused absence. The student’s record and guardian will be reported to the relevant authorities and child protection agencies after 15 consecutive days of absence.
Should unexcused absences surpass 15 days within the academic year, the student may have to repeat the year. Parents are entitled to appeal within five working days of receiving the notification.
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The policy also mandates immediate notification to parents regarding a child’s absence from school.
Additionally, any absence on Fridays or the days surrounding official holidays will be considered as two days of absence.
The policy sets a maximum of five unexcused absences per term and 15 per academic year.
This initiative underscores the critical role of attendance in academic achievement.
Earlier, the UAE approved changes for the current academic year, including centralized tests in the first and third semesters, while schools will handle their own summative assessments.
