The Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA) has announced that the start of the 2026–2027 academic year for private schools following Indian and Pakistani curricula in Sharjah has been postponed.

According to a circular issued to schools on Thursday, students will now begin classes on March 30, 2026, instead of the previously scheduled March 23.

Remote exams scheduled

SPEA said students may sit for examinations remotely between March 9 and March 12.

The authority explained that the decision came after requests from schools submitted through the Council of School Principals, and after reviewing the justifications provided by school administrations.

Temporary guidelines for schools

The authority also issued new instructions regarding school access for staff and parents.

Some administrative and teaching staff may be present on campus, but their number must not exceed 15 employees and should be limited to operational needs.

Parents will also be allowed to visit schools to collect uniforms and books, but only according to numbers and schedules set by the school administrations.

Schools asked to update parents

SPEA has asked school administrations to make the necessary internal arrangements and inform students and parents about the revised schedule.

The move aims to ensure smooth preparations before the start of the new academic year.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has cancelled several Class 10 board examinations in the Middle East and postponed a Class 12 exam scheduled for March 7, citing the prevailing situation in parts of the region.

In a circular dated March 5, the board informed school principals across the region, including UAE that all Class 10 board exams scheduled between March 7 and March 11 have been cancelled.

Earlier postponed exams also cancelled

The board also confirmed that Class 10 exams originally scheduled for March 2, March 5 and March 6, which had earlier been postponed, have now been officially cancelled.

CBSE said the method for declaring Class 10 results for students in the region will be announced later.

The decision comes amid ongoing regional escalations.

Class 12 exam postponed

Meanwhile, the Class 12 examination scheduled for Saturday, March 7, has been postponed, with revised dates to be announced later.

CBSE said it will review the situation on March 7 before issuing further instructions regarding Class 12 exams scheduled from March 9 onward.

Students have been advised to stay in close contact with their schools and follow official announcements carefully.

Exams began in February

The CBSE board examinations began on February 17 and were taken by thousands of students worldwide.

This year’s exam cycle marks the first time CBSE introduced a dual-exam system, allowing students to take the board exam twice in the same academic year to improve their scores.

• First attempt (February): Mandatory
• Second attempt (May): Optional for score improvement

Previously, students had only one chance to take board exams in March each year.

New evaluation system

The board has also introduced On-Screen Marking (OSM) for evaluating Class 12 answer sheets, a digital assessment method aimed at making the marking process faster, more transparent and more consistent.

Further updates on exam schedules and evaluation procedures will be announced after the board reviews the evolving situation in the region.

The Ministry of Education, along with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, on Wednesday, March 4, announced that the commencement of spring break for all academic institutions has been pushed forward to March 9, with the last working day to be March 6. Normal classes are scheduled to resume from March 30. 

The academic calendar placed the spring break dates originally from March 16 and ending on March 29 which has now moved from March 9 to March 22. The change comes in light of the ongoing regional conflict, with the safety of students and staff at schools and universities as the highest priority. 

Classes had transitioned to online learning at the beginning of this week as a precautionary measure for all students and staff, which was further extended up to the end of this week. Exams for students have also been shifted to a remote format, allowing them to complete their assessments safely from home. 

Students, parents, and staff are advised to stay updated via official channels only, as the measures aim to protect the safety of all in the education sector.

(By Shura Kola)