Equivalence certificate forms finalised by MoE

The ministry has classified equivalence certificates into two categories: the first is to match the technical certificates issued in the UAE and the second is equating the secondary school certificates given out by private schools.

A total of seven foreign curricula will be subject to the equivalence process including the British, American, International Baccalaureate (IB), Canadian, Iranian, Indian, and the Pakistani syllabi.

The education zones countrywide will be authorised to accredit and determine the equivalence of both the technical certificates and the high school certificates issued by private schools operating in the country. The process of matching the certificates will start from next month.

Head of the Examinations Section at the MoE Ahmed Al Derie pointed out that Minister of Education Dr Hanif Hassan, in line with the policy adopted recently to delegate powers to the education zones, has instructed the education zones to take over the endorsement of the certificates and equalise them in case the certificate holder is eager to resume university studies in the country or wants to seek a job which requires matching of school certificate with the general certificate of the high school.

The directors of the education zones have been given the power to sign and endorse the equivalence certificates.

Al Derie said the equivalence process would involve several criteria and standards. For instance, the authorities would determine the certificate in light of the educational system of the country in which it was issued and the system of the school which issued the certificate. Besides, an approval would be required from the school that released the certificate to determine whether it matches the general certificate of the secondary education issued by the UAE Ministry of Education.

Another criterion would be that the academic study which the applicant underwent should be formal, Al Derie pointed out, adding that the ministry will not accept any certificate obtained through distance learning.

Also, the country from where the certificate was released should not issue a certificate higher than the one attested here in the UAE.

Al Derie clarified that the MoE has prepared the application forms in Arabic and English, which includes the applicant's name, number of academic years the applicant has passed, and the name of the department along with the official body which is seeking matching of the certificate.

A Dh50 stamp should be attached to the application form. The applicant will be held responsible for the correctness and accuracy of the information provided in the form.

The department concerned has been authorised to refer any fake certificates to the authorised department for necessary action.

Applicants would be required to produce original certificates at the time of applying and the equivalence certificate will be issued to applicants within a week.

For equivalence of technical certificates, Al Derie said, the applicants would be required to furnish academic details, including the results of the tests. Passing of Arabic language and Islamic studies tests would be a must for applicants seeking equivalence certificate. The results should be endorsed by the institute concerned. An attested pass certificate of the last academic year is also required.

For matching the foreign curricula certificate, applicant should have studied both the Arabic language and Islamic studies at grades 10, 11 and 12.

Al Derie said the ministry had discovered that a lot of private schools were not teaching Arabic language and Islamic studies, resulting in problems for both the ministry and the graduates. When graduates wanted to pursue university education or even seek a job, their applications were rejected as they had to first sit for exams in the two subjects.

Among those who suffered were graduates who finished their education a few years ago. Thankfully, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, who was minister of education at that time, had ordered exemption for students who graduated in the academic year 2003-2004.