Schools in the UAE are busy organising ‘welcome back’ activities for students who wish return to campus on Sunday, December 3, after a three-week winter break that ends today.
Some schools will adopt mandatory two weeks of distance learning for the first two weeks, while others will reopen as usual with strict Covid safety measures in place.
>> Dubai: Most schools in Dubai are looking to welcome the majority of their students back on campus.
>> Abu Dhabi: Both public and private schools will offer distance learning in the first two weeks.
>> Sharjah: Parents of students can decide on the mode of education. They can choose in-person, hybrid or remote education for their wards. The tilt, though, is towards online education.
>> Public schools: They will offer two weeks of distance learning.
Dubai schools ready to receive students
Schools principals in Dubai said they are ready to offer in-person classes to most of their students.
Annie Mathew, Principal of Gulf Model School, said: “Our older students have already returned to school and we are getting them prepared for board exams. Other parents may exercise the option of either onsite or remote learning, but we are prepared to have anyone who wishes to attend school physically.
“For the younger students, we have planned age appropriate ‘welcome back’ activities and will reinforce the (Covid) safety measures to be taken to remain safe and healthy.”
Some school heads said most parents want their children to attend physical school.
Lalitha Suresh of GEMS Our Own Indian School said: “Our parents are now quite eager to send their wards to school for in-person learning. Some are really keen on sending their children for in-person classes, as they want their kids to attend on-site learning at least for the last few months of the academic (Indian curriculum) session.”
Quarantine
Pramod Mahajan, Director-Principal of Sharjah Indian School, said: “The Sharjah Private Education Authority has said that all returning students and teachers from overseas must undergo a two-weeks home quarantine. Therefore, we foresee a continuation of online learning for a majority of our students.
“If students who haven’t travelled during the break wish to come to school physically, we are more than happy to have them. Otherwise, we will follow the distance learning model.”
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