Having a structured curriculum for Physical Education (PE) is now mandatory across Abu Dhabi schools run by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), ensuring that all students engage in physical activity with qualified teachers and a written curriculum.
Schools are also required to provide alternative sports options or accommodations if a student cannot participate in a certain class due to personal comfort or social norms.
“Previously, PE teacher qualifications were not regulated. A coach or any instructor could be put in charge, and there was no structured curriculum,” said Sylvie Wald, Education Policy Office Director at ADEK. “Now, we are saying no — it has to be structured.”
One of 39 new policies introduced by ADEK last September, the physical education policy mandates that every school aligns its PE programme with a physical literacy framework, ensuring that students engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity daily. More significantly, it eliminates the long-standing loophole that allowed students to opt out of PE with a simple note from their parents.
“We had a lot of students who did not want to take part in PE, sometimes just because they don’t want to get sweaty, but other times because they were not comfortable — especially with girls you see this happening. This is absolutely detrimental to their health.”
ADEK is now requiring all schools to make accommodations instead of allowing students to avoid PE altogether. For instance, students who feel uncomfortable in mixed-gender PE classes must be provided alternatives, even in co-educational schools. This could include separate sections, privacy screens, or switching to different physical activities.
While most schools already have proper PE programmes that include a variety of sports, the new policy makes it more mandatory and structured. ‘Previously, there was no official Physical Education (PE) school policy — this is a brand-new initiative,’ said Wald.
PE was required under different curricula, such as the French or American systems, but its implementation varied. “In private schools alone, we had 16 different curricula, each addressing PE differently. Now, we’ve stepped up and said that’s not enough.”
ADEK’s new set of policies will become mandatory by September 2026. Non-compliance could lead to fines.
