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 focuses 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 campaign aims to raise awareness of the National Education Charter as the ultimate reference document that defines the national goals for education in the country. By establishing a sustainable framework, the Charter ensures the stability of the education system while enhancing its flexibility to adapt to rapid technological shifts, societal changes and labour market needs, boosting the UAE's knowledge leadership.
Her Excellency Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education, noted that the National Education Charter is the UAE's core framework for human development. She emphasised that the success of the country's education system relies on embracing the Charter's principles across schools in partnership with families and the wider community.
Her Excellency added that the 'Guided by the Charter, Building Tomorrow' campaign translates the Charter's 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."
The National Education Charter was developed through a collaborative national effort across over 10 consultative workshops that involved more than 200 representatives of 31 federal and local government as well as private sector entities. The Charter defines the ideal UAE learner profile through three core pillars – national identity, character traits and future skills – balancing a strong sense of national pride with essential competencies, like critical thinking, communication, creativity and AI mastery.
Six pathways of activation
To embed the Charter's pillars into school life, the campaign utilises six integrated pathways. These include linking the Charter's principles to educational outcomes, empowering teachers to apply them, integrating them in daily practices, leveraging classroom and extracurricular activities to reinforce them, aligning the student code of conduct with them, and engaging families in supporting their implementation.
Engagement for the 2026-2027 academic year will centre around Charter Weeks, scheduled across the three school terms. Targeted activities will connect the Charter's principles to students' lives and national events, giving them opportunities to practice the core values, traits and skills hands-on in real-world contexts at school, at home and in the community.
MoE is supporting the implementation of the Charter with a tailored suite of resources for the school community, including the Schools' Guide, Parents' Guide and National Education Charter Passport. These toolkits clarify the roles of students, teachers, administrators and parents, providing actionable frameworks to turn principles into measurable behaviours.
The Charter Passport will also serve as an interactive companion for students to log daily actions reflecting the Charter's principles. Teachers and parents verify and document each action with a stamp in the passport. This system motivates active participation, culminating in the chance to earn a Golden Passport at the end of the academic year.