“Parents are continuing to urge education authorities to allow them the option of keeping their children in FS1 if they are not ready to move on to the next stage.”
“Parents in the UAE whose children may be required to skip FS1 and move straight into FS2 are calling on education authorities for greater flexibility in school placement. They are urging officials in their respective education zones to allow children to remain in FS1 if they are not ready to advance to the next stage.”
The issue follows the Ministry of Education’s December announcement, which shifted the school admission cut-off from August 31 to December 31 for children entering FS1 under the British curriculum—or Pre-KG in other curricula—through to Year 2. As a result, children born between September and December could now start school up to four months earlier than previously allowed.
Matter of Choice
Parents like Eshanka Wahi, whose elder son was born in October 2022 and was originally set to join FS1 in September 2026, now face the prospect of him skipping a year and starting FS2—making him the youngest in his class.
She emphasises the lack of choice in the matter.
“We just want a choice for our children. Schools start in September, and many children may not be ready at that stage to go to FS2. A few months at that age is a significant developmental milestone. We must have the right to choose which class my child would attend. Most of us are simply asking for that flexibility,” Wahi said.
Florence Sanders, a UK-trained early years educator and affected parent, told Khaleej Times, “In my opinion, the early years are the most important years of education. It’s where children develop socially. They learn different developmental and social skills…you can teach Maths, English, and Science later, but these skills are critical to the people they become.”
Florence’s daughter, also born in October 2022, now faces a classroom where some children are a full year ahead academically. “She’s going to start immediately on the back foot, and that will continue until she finishes school. I truly believe that if they go ahead with this, there will be a ‘forgotten cohort’…they may not struggle academically, but missing a whole year of play, socialising, and skill development is a huge concern.”
While she considers herself fortunate that her daughter is already toilet-trained and mature for her age, she worries about children who aren’t.
“A lot of children are not toilet-trained,” she explains. “So how do these children come in and sit with peers who are 15 months ahead of them?”
Demotion Letters
Scottish expat James Reid shared similar concerns about his son, Oliver. “Oliver has had some developmental delays, which worries us. However, under the new rule, he is automatically being moved to FS2, even though he is still in nappies and will need additional support, including an inclusion place. To keep him in FS1, we would need what’s called a ‘demotion letter.’”
Demotion requests have become rare, with KHDA approving very few over the past year. While parents can ask their child’s school to submit an application on their behalf, only strong and compelling cases are likely to be considered. This is no longer a standard or common practice.
Parents have also highlighted the wider ripple effects of the new rule. “All the parents in our WhatsApp group have written to various ministries,” Wahi said. “People have bought houses in areas with sought-after schools and applied years in advance. I had applied for my child to RGS when he was six months old; otherwise, you don’t get in. But now…even schools with confirmed FS1 admissions are rescinding offers because there’s no space in FS2.”
