The school holidays have come to a close and life amidst the pandemic is returning to a “new normal” in the UAE, and for many students that means back to school – not just online, but physically in classrooms.
There’s been a long list of requirements for schools to follow to ensure the health and safety of all students and staff. In order to minimise gatherings, some schools have divided pupils into morning and afternoon shifts, while others will go into school on specific days. Others have a mixture of online and in-classroom learning.
However, some have questioned if this new model – or if parents decided to do continued distanced learning – will result in lower school fees in Dubai.
In the new interactive initiative with the Dubai government, the question was asked if school fees would be lowered.
Answering the question, Dr Abdulla Al Karam, the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director-General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), stated, “The choice of distance learning does not impact the fees.
Q5: Can my child continue with distance learning in the new academic year? #AskDXBofficial @KHDA pic.twitter.com/QtjO4KLHk2
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 27, 2020
“But we understand that many schools are putting together different packages to support parents who have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis.”
Last week, ahead of the school year officially beginning, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai wished pupils a “safe start” to the academic year.
“I heard from the Minister of Education about the latest preparations for the start of the next academic year,” His Highness wrote to his 10.3 million Twitter followers.
“We look forward to a safe start and in accordance with the best safety standards for more than a million students within the education system in the Emirates.”
اطلعت من وزراء التربية والتعليم على آخر الاستعدادات لانطلاق العام الدراسي القادم .. نتطلع لانطلاقة آمنة ووفق أفضل معايير السلامة لأكثر من مليون طالب وطالبة ضمن منظومة التعليم في الإمارات .. pic.twitter.com/ERlcn7LIzB
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) August 25, 2020
As pupils prepare to head back to school, there are regulations to be mindful of which differ from emirate to emirate.
It’s been clarified that pupils in Dubai do not need to get tested, but many teachers underwent COVID-19 tests last week.
“As we look forward to many students returning to school next week, we would like to confirm that Covid-19 PCR testing is not mandatory for students,” the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) said in a statement on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, in Abu Dhabi, students who are over 12 will need to be tested. However, under a staggered return plan high school students are not set to return to classrooms until the end of September. Like Dubai, all teachers in the UAE capital must be tested for COVID-19.
Across the UAE, it is mandatory for students to wear face masks throughout the school day.
