In three indicators relating to the Sustainable Development Goal 4 of Quality Education, the UAE has been ranked top in the world.
The UAE has maintained its leadership in these measures since 2020, according to numerous prominent international organizations in the field of competitiveness.
According to the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, the UAE has increased its efforts to meet Sustainable Development Goal 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and encourage lifelong learning opportunities for all (FCSC).
The country ranked first in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report’s Primary Education Enrolment and Literacy Index, as well as first in the IMD’s International Student Flow Index. Wam, the UAE’s state news agency, is collaborating with the FCSC on a series of periodic reports that showcase the UAE’s progress toward the UN’s 17 sustainable development goals, which were set in 2015. The UAE’s global leadership in the three indexes reflects the country’s commitment to ensuring equitable, high-quality, and inclusive education since it provides free public education to all residents.
All citizens above the age of six must attend school until they complete the 12th grade, or until they are 18 years old.
The right to education is guaranteed by Federal Law No. 3 for 2016, often known as Wadeema’s Law, which states in Article No. 31 that “every child shall have the right to education, and the state shall strive on obtaining equal chances for every child, according to the laws in force.”
The law makes it illegal for parents or guardians to refuse to enroll their children in school or to prevent them from attending during mandatory education hours. In terms of the literacy index, the UAE has achieved tremendous progress in lowering illiteracy rates to below 1% and promoting sustainable education principles throughout academic processes and practices. In terms of the net flow of international students, the country’s higher education sector has retained its international leadership in attracting non-citizen students and has established a recognized universal higher education model in a relatively short period of time.
