Students across the UAE will be taught artificial intelligence as part of a new curriculum approved by the UAE Cabinet, covering everything from AI data and algorithms to its applications, risks and ethical use.
The curriculum will be introduced across all public and private schools in the UAE, according to the Cabinet meeting held on September 2.
The move means AI education is being positioned as part of students’ regular learning, rather than something limited to specialist technology programmes or extracurricular activities.
What will students learn about AI?
The new curriculum is designed to give students an understanding of both how AI works and how it should be used.
According to the Cabinet, students will learn about:
- AI data
- Algorithms
- AI applications
- The risks associated with AI
- Ethical use of artificial intelligence
The approach goes beyond simply teaching students how to use AI tools. It is also intended to help them understand the technology and its implications.
The UAE Cabinet said a pilot programme and evaluation of the curriculum in public schools had already produced positive results.
22,000 teachers and educators to receive AI training
The change will also involve teachers.
A separate programme reviewed by the Cabinet will train 22,000 teachers and educators to use AI tools in areas including teaching, assessment, curriculum analysis and lesson planning.
The programme also aims to encourage teachers to use AI to support innovation among students.
The government’s position is that the rapid development of AI is changing how education works, meaning teachers will need to keep developing their own skills alongside the technology.
When will the AI curriculum start?
The Cabinet announcement confirms that the AI curriculum has been approved for implementation across public and private schools, but the statement does not provide a specific start date or timetable for individual schools.
That means parents and students should not assume that the curriculum will begin on a particular date based on this announcement alone.
The release also does not specify how many lessons or hours students will receive, or whether the curriculum will be taught as a standalone subject or incorporated into existing subjects.
UAE plans to share its AI curriculum internationally
The UAE is also looking beyond its own schools.
The Cabinet approved a mechanism to make the curriculum and its components available to education ministries in other countries, allowing them to use the UAE’s experience in developing AI education.
The move comes as the UAE seeks to prepare students for a future in which artificial intelligence is expected to play a growing role in education and work.
For families in the UAE, the immediate change is clear: AI education is being expanded to the country’s public and private school system, with students set to learn not only about AI technology but also its risks and responsible use.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
