Beginning of the next academic year, it provides a wide range of options for learners

Emsat is optional for admission of students to higher education institutions

• Al-Falasi during a press conference to announce the ministry's decision to amend the criteria and conditions for admission to higher education institutions in the country.

  Photography: Mostafa Qasimi

picture

The Ministry of Education has adopted a decision regarding criteria and conditions for admission to higher education institutions in the country, according to which the adoption of the "EMSAT" test becomes optional, and it is applied starting from the university admission procedures for the academic year 2023-2024. The decision gives higher education institutions in the country the flexibility to choose between obtaining accreditation “EMSAT” or other tests that measure the competency of students accredited in the country, for the purpose of admission to various disciplines and academic programs, and it also gives them the flexibility to determine the minimum scores for any of those tests required within the conditions and procedures for admission, while ensuring that the quality of the outputs of the educational process is maintained according to standards Accreditation.

And the Minister of Education, Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, stated that more than a million male and female students have undergone Emsat tests since its launch in the year (2017-2018) until the current academic year, and the capacity of the test centers reached 33,000 tests per day in 272 centers. distributed at the state level.

He added, “After consulting with higher education institutions, parents of students and the concerned authorities, during the last period, we found that it is appropriate, with the high quality in higher education institutions, for the (EMSAT) test to become optional for universities, in addition to granting them the right to test students in other ways they find.” suitable".

Al-Falasi explained during a press conference held yesterday to announce the ministry’s decision to amend the criteria and conditions for admission to higher education institutions in the country, that “in the event that the university institution chooses the (EMSAT) test, it will determine the minimum test score, not the Ministry of Education, as was the case in The previous one, especially since the country has more than 15 educational curricula, so it must choose the appropriate tests to find out the outputs of the educational curriculum and what distinguishes it.

He referred to direct coordination with universities and giving them a deadline until the 28th of this month to raise university admission standards and their special conditions for the ministry, especially since this period is considered the application period for the next academic year in university education, stressing at the same time the importance of students' awareness of the majors and standards required in universities before applying. to her.

Al-Falasi stressed that “work is underway to prepare an extensive study in cooperation with higher education institutions, to determine the extent of our needs in the next stage to discuss the reality of the study subjects targeted in the Emsat test, and the extent of our needs to add subjects or dispense with others according to developments, provided that all developments In the interest of the student to continue his educational career, and to enable him to meet his skills that simulate the requirements of the future labor market.

He pointed out the Ministry's keenness to protect students in proficiency tests, as no university has the right to oblige a student to pass the "EMSAT" test, and on the other hand, impose on him to pass other standard tests, as the announced developments gave it the opportunity to determine its educational and skill needs from learners. In addition to specifying the subjects that the student will apply for in the “EMSAT” tests to meet these needs, or to specify the alternatives, and it is not permissible to impose on the student the “EMSAT” tests and the alternatives together.

He pointed to the great development in the concept of cooperation between the Ministry and universities during the next few months, to support and guide the student and enable him to choose the university, college and specialization of study, in addition to his readiness to pass the Emirates Standard Test “EMSAT”, as there are more decisions related to this file that concerns the groups of society. education, and it will be announced later and gradually.

He explained that the amendment of the Emirates Standard Test policy was based on continuous monitoring of the results of students in Arabic, English and mathematics subjects, which showed a clear disparity in the abilities of students, pointing out that this is similar to the disparity in the levels of universities as well as schools, explaining that after examining various factors, it became clear It is better not to set a minimum threshold for passing academic subjects in the test, and to let higher education institutions determine admission criteria in each major based on academic requirements.

Al-Falasi said: "The decision comes within the continuous efforts to develop the education system in the country, according to the best approved international practices, which includes the implementation of a comprehensive development process for national and international examination policies that students undergo."

He pointed out that "the decision was preceded by an extensive study that absorbed all the opinions of the parties concerned with the educational process, including higher education institutions, students and parents, on how to upgrade the university study system in a way that serves the interest of students and their academic future," noting that "the ministry will periodically review developments in the decision." In consultation with higher education institutions in the country to ensure the best educational outcomes and outcomes for students.

He added: “The EmSat test, designed by the Ministry of Education, provides an effective tool for assessing students’ skills, and the decision allows higher education institutions in the country to choose to adopt EmSat or other approved tests in line with their academic programs and various specializations, while enabling these institutions to Determining admission criteria, more flexibility in the mechanism for assessing the competencies and skills of students within their university admission procedures, which enhances their ability to choose the appropriate university major according to their tendencies, skills and potential, and in line with the current and future labor market requirements.

He stressed that «the Ministry of Education will continue to work on modernizing the educational system in the country, developing strategies for the education sector, activating and developing the most appropriate tools to ensure the efficiency of their application in accordance with international best practices, and in line with the directions of the wise leadership and the goals of the UAE Centennial 2071».

Institutions of higher education must determine the competency associated with the programs by approving the student’s score in the “EMSAT” test and its results in the relevant subject, or in one of the accredited proficiency tests, or by approving the student’s score in the same school subject within one of the international curricula with centralized examinations. (such as the British system or the International Baccalaureate system), or the student’s score in the entrance examination offered by the institution of higher education and approved by the Ministry, provided that students have more than one option from the approved options to prove their proficiency in the same subject.

The most important thing in the decision:

■ Higher education institutions have the flexibility to choose between adopting the EMSAT or another standardized test.

■ Institutions of higher education determine the minimum required test scores within the university admission requirements.

■ Universities are committed to student admission procedures by ensuring that the quality of the educational process's outputs is maintained.

■ The decision is implemented starting from the admission procedures for the academic year 2023-2024.

■ Updates on the decision are reviewed and evaluated periodically, in consultation with higher education institutions.

■ The decision aims to enhance students' ability to choose the appropriate university specialization according to their interests and skills.

■ The new decision supports the provision of current and future labor market requirements.

33

1,000 tests per day in 272 centers distributed throughout the country, with the capacity of the test centers.

15

An educational curriculum exists in the country, so it must choose the appropriate tests to find out the educational curriculum outputs.

Dr. Ahmed Al Falasi:

"We are keen to develop exam policies and ensure that the quality of education outcomes is maintained."

More than a million male and female students have taken EmSat tests since its launch in the year (2017-2018) until the current academic year.

Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news