UAE to introduce AI as subject for all public school students from next year
UAE will introduce 'Artificial Intelligence' as a subject in public schools from the next academic year. This subject will be available from kindergarten to Grade 12, across all stages of government education.
On Sunday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE, made the announcement on X.
He said that this decision comes as part of "UAE's long-term plans to prepare future generations for a different future, a new world".
The Minister of Education, Sarah Bint Yousef Al Amiri, said that the curriculum has key areas covering core Al concepts. They are: data and algorithms, software application, ethical awareness in Al, real-world Al applications, Al-driven innovation and project design, Al policies and social engagement.
She added that the authority will provide teachers with comprehensive resources, including activities, templates, and ready-to-use lesson plans adaptable to diverse classroom settings.
Sheikh Mohammed also said that the goal is to teach children a deep understanding of AI from a technical perspective, "while also fostering their awareness of the ethics of this new technology, enhancing their understanding of its data, algorithms, applications, risks, and its connection to society and life."
He said: "Our responsibility is to equip our children for a time unlike ours, with conditions different from ours, and with new skills and capabilities that ensure the continued momentum of development and progress in our nation for decades to come."
Last year, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the Crown Prince of Dubai, announced that schools in the emirate will have teachers qualified in the field of artificial intelligence.
He also declared the launch of a programme to impart training in the use of AI and its applications for teachers in the emirate.
The programme was launched in line with the recently launched Dubai Universal Blueprint for Artificial Intelligence (DUB.AI).
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