The Ministry of Education (MoE) has launched its back-to-school campaign for the 2026-2027 academic year under the theme ‘Guided by the Charter, Building Tomorrow’. The campaign centres on implementing the National Education Charter, signed by UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Their Highnesses Rulers of the Emirates on 28 February 2026, coinciding with Emirati Day for Education.
The aim is to build awareness of the Charter as the country’s reference document for education, one that sets out national goals while giving the system enough flexibility to keep pace with technological shifts, societal change and labour market needs. MoE says this framework is designed to strengthen the UAE’s knowledge leadership over the long term.
A permanent compass for education decisions
Her Excellency Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education, described the National Education Charter as the UAE’s core framework for human development. She said the success of the education system depends on schools embracing the Charter’s principles in partnership with families and the wider community.
Her Excellency added that the ‘Guided by the Charter, Building Tomorrow’ campaign turns those principles into practical initiatives, cultivating national identity, critical thinking, innovation and responsibility, and building an educational culture aligned with national aspirations.
She said: “A world-class education system views education as a shared national responsibility to build future-ready generations. At MoE, we are working to make the National Education Charter a permanent compass for all educational decisions, ensuring students can turn their values, knowledge and skills into positive contributions that enhance the UAE’s global competitiveness.”
How the Charter came together
The National Education Charter was shaped through a collaborative national effort, drawing on more than 10 consultative workshops involving over 200 representatives from 31 federal, local government and private sector entities.
It defines the ideal UAE learner profile around three core pillars: national identity, character traits and future skills. Together, these balance a strong sense of national pride with essential competencies such as critical thinking, communication, creativity and AI mastery.
Six pathways into school life
The campaign is built around six integrated pathways to embed the Charter’s pillars in everyday school life. These link the Charter’s principles to educational outcomes, empower teachers to apply them, integrate them into daily practice, use classroom and extracurricular activities to reinforce them, align the student code of conduct with them, and engage families in supporting their implementation.
For the 2026-2027 academic year, engagement will centre on Charter Weeks, scheduled across the three school terms. These will connect the Charter’s principles to students’ lives and national events, giving them hands-on opportunities to practise the core values, traits and skills at school, at home and in the community.
Resources for schools, teachers and families
To support schools with implementation, MoE has put together a tailored suite of resources: a Schools’ Guide, a Parents’ Guide and a National Education Charter Passport. These set out the roles of students, teachers, administrators and parents, and give them actionable frameworks for turning principles into measurable behaviours.
The Charter Passport doubles as an interactive companion for students, who log daily actions that reflect the Charter’s principles. Teachers and parents verify and stamp each entry, and students who keep up their participation through the year have the chance to earn a Golden Passport.
