ADEK Initiative to Develop AI Skills From Kindergarten to Grade 12.
Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) is expanding its AI Education Initiative across more than 170 private schools in the emirate, with the programme designed to develop students’ artificial intelligence knowledge and skills from kindergarten through Grade 12.
The initiative provides a structured framework that allows students to progressively build their understanding of AI throughout their school years, while maintaining a strong focus on student health and wellbeing at every stage.
A key objective of the programme is to equip students with the critical-thinking skills needed to assess and evaluate AI-generated outputs rather than simply rely on the technology.
For younger students, the approach focuses on building critical and logical thinking skills through age-appropriate activities, including play-based and screen-free learning experiences.
As students advance through the grades, they are gradually introduced to AI tools and techniques for evaluating their outputs. They then progress to using the technology to develop practical solutions, before eventually learning how intelligent systems can be designed, managed and used responsibly.
This phased approach is intended to help students move from understanding and assessing AI to applying it effectively, while developing an awareness of the responsibilities involved in creating and managing intelligent systems.
Safeguards to prevent over-reliance on AI
Throughout the programme, AI is positioned as an assistive tool designed to enhance students’ abilities, rather than replace independent thinking. The initiative includes safeguards aimed at preventing excessive dependence on AI while ensuring students continue to develop their own analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
By Grade 12, students are expected to be capable of designing scalable AI-powered systems and solutions, enabling them to progress from simply using the technology to actively contributing to its development.
The initiative is based on a specialised, human-centred AI learning framework designed to prepare students to become active participants in the development of AI applications and solutions. Ethical and responsible use of the technology is embedded throughout the programme.
Four key areas of AI learning
According to ADEK, the framework sets out clear learning outcomes across four core areas:
- Understanding fundamental AI concepts
- Critically evaluating and consciously engaging with AI technologies
- Designing and developing AI-based solutions
- Using AI responsibly, including understanding governance, data protection, privacy and its broader societal impact
The framework was developed with input from experts at leading national and international institutions to ensure alignment with global practices and standards. These include the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Microsoft and Khalifa University of Science and Technology.
The framework’s learning outcomes are brought into the classroom through a specialised AI curriculum spanning all grade levels. The curriculum combines practical skills development with an understanding of the fundamental concepts and principles behind artificial intelligence technologies.
Students follow a progressive learning pathway that develops alongside their knowledge and abilities. The journey begins with the “Explorer” and “Emerging Thinker” stages, advances to “Solution Developer” in Grade 8, and culminates with “Systems and Applications Designer” in Grade 12.
Comprehensive lesson plans for the full academic year
The curriculum provides comprehensive lesson plans covering the entire academic year, supported by dedicated teaching tools and resources.
Schools have flexibility in how the programme is delivered. They can integrate AI learning into existing subjects, adopt a hybrid approach or offer it as a standalone subject, while ensuring that the required learning outcomes are achieved at each grade level.
To measure students’ proficiency and monitor the development of their AI knowledge and skills, ADEK has introduced the AI Skills Growth Assessment, a standardised evaluation for students from Grades 4 to 12.
The assessment is conducted twice each academic year, allowing schools to track students’ progress and evaluate how effectively they are developing AI-related capabilities over time.
The assessment enables schools to establish students’ proficiency levels at the start of their AI learning journey, identify individual and group learning needs, and track their development over time.
Where students require additional support, schools can provide targeted lessons to strengthen the foundational knowledge and skills needed to progress through the curriculum.
Schools’ obligations
The initiative also supports ADEK’s Technology and AI Policy for Schools, which outlines the requirements, safeguards and controls governing the use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in Abu Dhabi’s private schools.
Under the policy, schools must use AI-powered educational tools that meet ADEK’s requirements, while ensuring they have the necessary digital infrastructure and expertise to deploy the technology effectively and responsibly.
Six key areas governing the use of AI
The policy focuses on six core areas:
- Protecting students’ data and privacy
- Preserving independent thinking skills
- Maintaining academic integrity
- Ensuring human oversight of AI-generated decisions
- Maintaining content safety and alignment with UAE values
- Promoting fairness in the operation of AI systems
These safeguards are intended to ensure that AI enhances the learning experience and strengthens students’ capabilities without replacing essential skills such as independent thinking, problem-solving, judgement and decision-making.
Training and upskilling 19,000 teachers
Recognising the central role teachers play in delivering the AI Education Initiative, ADEK has developed a comprehensive three-level professional development programme aimed at training and upskilling 19,000 teachers and educators by the end of the programme.
The training is designed to equip educators with the knowledge and skills needed to integrate AI effectively and responsibly into classroom learning while supporting the initiative’s broader educational objectives.
The first level consists of mandatory training designed to give educators a strong foundation in AI, including an understanding of the technology, principles for its responsible and ethical use, and the skills needed to use AI tools effectively.
The training also focuses on practical classroom applications, showing teachers how AI-powered tools can support instruction and help address students’ learning needs across different subjects.
The second level provides optional training for heads of departments across various specialisations, with a focus on effectively integrating AI into teaching and learning practices.
The third level offers advanced training for designated AI leads in each school, aimed at developing specialised expertise within schools. These AI leads will help support teaching staff and guide the implementation of the AI Education Initiative across their institutions.
Teachers will receive a comprehensive set of resources covering the curriculum, learning outcomes, lesson plans, teaching materials, assessments and implementation guidance. Dedicated materials will also help educators support students and address learning gaps, with the aim of ensuring consistent delivery of the curriculum across schools.
A transformative step for education in Abu Dhabi
The initiative marks a significant shift in Abu Dhabi’s education system by positioning AI as a core part of the learning process, rather than treating it solely as a technological tool, as implementation continues across private schools in the emirate.
By bringing together a clear learning framework, progressive curriculum, standardised assessments, structured policies for AI use and comprehensive teacher training, the AI Education Initiative aims to prepare students to use artificial intelligence confidently, responsibly and with a strong awareness of its implications.
The programme also seeks to ensure students remain grounded in their values and capable of independent thinking, while developing the skills needed to contribute to Abu Dhabi’s future development and prosperity.
