The Ministry of Education has signed an agreement with Dubai Municipality to develop professional and technical education pathways for Emirati students in public schools across Dubai.
The partnership aims to better connect academic education with labour market requirements while giving students opportunities to pursue professional qualifications and future careers in technical and specialised fields.
Programme to begin from Grade 10
Under the agreement, the two entities will develop an integrated programme starting from Grade 10, combining academic learning with vocational education and practical training. Students who complete the programme will have the opportunity to obtain accredited professional qualifications.
The initiative will also provide support beyond Grade 12, allowing eligible students to explore further education and potential career opportunities with Dubai Municipality.
The agreement was signed by Amna Al Saleh, Assistant Undersecretary for the Curriculum and Assessment Sector at the Ministry of Education, and Ismail Al Hashemi, Acting CEO of the Corporate Support Services Sector at Dubai Municipality.
Al Saleh said the initiative supports efforts to develop an education system that equips students with knowledge, practical skills and experience relevant to future labour market requirements.
She added that expanding educational and career pathways can help students identify their interests and abilities at an earlier stage and make informed decisions about further education and employment.
Initial focus on food safety
The programme will initially target Emirati students specialising in food safety, building on Dubai Municipality’s role as the first government entity to introduce food safety as an educational subject within the education sector.
Following an evaluation of the programme, the partners may expand participation and introduce additional technical disciplines.
The initiative combines classroom learning with practical experience and is designed to give students exposure to real-world professional environments.
Practical training and digital resources
The Ministry of Education and Dubai Municipality will jointly develop and accredit vocational content, educational materials and digital resources. The partnership will also cover assessment tools, certified trainers, practical training and field visits.
Virtual reality technologies will be used to provide students with additional insight into professional work environments.
The partners will also work on adapting school timetables, providing the required technologies and academic supervision, monitoring implementation and measuring programme outcomes.
Student selection will be coordinated between the two entities.
Support beyond school
The agreement includes financial incentives for eligible students based on established criteria and performance outcomes. It also provides for continued engagement after Grade 12 to support students in pursuing further education and career opportunities.
Ismail Al Hashemi said the agreement represents a step towards establishing a specialised education and training pathway aligned with future labour market requirements and municipal-sector needs.
“At Dubai Municipality, we believe in the capabilities and talents of Emirati youth and view investment in their development as an investment in the future,” Al Hashemi said.
He added that combining academic and field-based learning would help students build the knowledge, skills and practical experience needed to contribute to the future of municipal work.
The two entities said the initiative is intended to serve as an expandable model for vocational and technical education, with the potential to cover additional disciplines linked to the needs of vital sectors in the future.
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