Parents urge authorities for flexibility as UAE changes school entry age rules
Parents in the UAE whose children may have to skip FS1 and move straight into FS2 are requesting education bodies to allow more flexibility in school placement. They continue urging the authorities in their education zones to give them the option to keep their children in FS1 if they’re not ready to take the next step.The issue comes after the Ministry of Education’s December announcement, which moved the school admission cut-off from August 31 to December 31 for children entering FS1 under the British curriculum — or Pre-KG in other curricula — through to Year 2. This means children born between September and December could start school up to four months earlier than before.Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.Matter of choiceParents like Prajwal Gupta, whose elder son was born in October 2022 and originally set to join FS1 in September 2026, now face the prospect of him skipping a year and joining FS2 — becoming the youngest in his class.She stresses the lack of choice in the matter.“We just want a choice for our children. Schools start in September, and many children may not be ready at that stage to go to FS2. A few months at that age is a significant developmental milestone. We must have a right to choose in which class my child would go to. Most of us are just requesting for that flexibility.”Florence Sanders, a UK-trained early years educator and an affected parent, told Khaleej Times, “The importance of early years, in my opinion, is the most important years of education. It's where children develop socially. They learn all the different developmental skills, the social skills…you can teach Maths, English and Science later, but these skills are so critical to the people they become.”Florence’s daughter, born in October 2022, now faces a classroom where some children are a full year ahead academically. “She’s going to be immediately on the back foot, and that will carry on until she finishes school. I really do believe if they go ahead with this, there’s going to be the ‘forgotten cohort’…they may not struggle academically, but missing out on a whole year of playing and socialising and developing skills is a huge concern.”While she considers herself fortunate that her daughter is already toilet-trained and mature for her age, she worries about children who aren’t.“A lot of children are not toilet trained,” she explains. “So how do these children come in and sit with children who are 15 months ahead of them?”Demotion letter Scottish expat James Reid described similar worries about his son, Oliver. “Oliver has had some developmental delays, which is worrying for us. However, because of the new rule, he is automatically being moved to FS2, but he is still in nappies and would need additional support, including an inclusion place. To keep Oliver in FS1, we would need what’s called a ‘demotion letter’.”Demotion requests have become quite rare, with KHDA approving very few in the past year. While parents can ask their child’s school to submit an application on their behalf, it’s important to know that only strong, compelling reasons are likely to be considered.Notably, this is no longer a standard or common practice.Parents noted that the ripple effects are significant. “People have bought houses in areas with sought-after schools and applied years in advance. I have also heard that some schools are rescinding admissions as there is no space in FS2,” Gupta said.UAE parents seek clarity as new school admission age rules affect placementsUAE schools expand FS2, Grade 1 capacity to meet rising demand amid new age cut-offs
Parents in the UAE whose children may have to skip FS1 and move straight into FS2 are requesting education bodies to allow more flexibility in school placement.
They continue urging the authorities in their education zones to give them the option to keep their children in FS1 if they’re not ready to take the next step.
The issue comes after the Ministry of Education’s December announcement, which moved the school admission cut-off from August 31 to December 31 for children entering FS1 under the British curriculum — or Pre-KG in other curricula — through to Year 2. This means children born between September and December could start school up to four months earlier than before.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
Matter of choice
Parents like Prajwal Gupta, whose elder son was born in October 2022 and originally set to join FS1 in September 2026, now face the prospect of him skipping a year and joining FS2 — becoming the youngest in his class.
She stresses the lack of choice in the matter.
“We just want a choice for our children. Schools start in September, and many children may not be ready at that stage to go to FS2. A few months at that age is a significant developmental milestone. We must have a right to choose in which class my child would go to. Most of us are just requesting for that flexibility.”
Florence Sanders, a UK-trained early years educator and an affected parent, told Khaleej Times, “The importance of early years, in my opinion, is the most important years of education. It's where children develop socially. They learn all the different developmental skills, the social skills…you can teach Maths, English and Science later, but these skills are so critical to the people they become.”
Florence’s daughter, born in October 2022, now faces a classroom where some children are a full year ahead academically. “She’s going to be immediately on the back foot, and that will carry on until she finishes school. I really do believe if they go ahead with this, there’s going to be the ‘forgotten cohort’…they may not struggle academically, but missing out on a whole year of playing and socialising and developing skills is a huge concern.”
While she considers herself fortunate that her daughter is already toilet-trained and mature for her age, she worries about children who aren’t.
“A lot of children are not toilet trained,” she explains. “So how do these children come in and sit with children who are 15 months ahead of them?”
Demotion letter
Scottish expat James Reid described similar worries about his son, Oliver. “Oliver has had some developmental delays, which is worrying for us. However, because of the new rule, he is automatically being moved to FS2, but he is still in nappies and would need additional support, including an inclusion place. To keep Oliver in FS1, we would need what’s called a ‘demotion letter’.”
Demotion requests have become quite rare, with KHDA approving very few in the past year. While parents can ask their child’s school to submit an application on their behalf, it’s important to know that only strong, compelling reasons are likely to be considered.
Notably, this is no longer a standard or common practice.
Parents noted that the ripple effects are significant. “People have bought houses in areas with sought-after schools and applied years in advance. I have also heard that some schools are rescinding admissions as there is no space in FS2,” Gupta said.
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