UAE schools: 50% of students may return to campus next week

The Ministry of Education has announced the launch of a strategy to ensure a safe return to school during the second semester of the academic year 2020-2021, after a review of the health status, the advice of the relevant authorities and the parents' wishes as key partners in the plan.

The framework relies on instruction and instructive programs and flexible student attendance situations, which the Ministry has added to its official Twitter account. The authorities added that the occupancy of the school will not surpass 50% of its ability to ensure the achievement of the precautionary steps.

On December 30, the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee, in coordination with Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, announced the decision of online learning with an aim to “protect the health and safety of students, teachers and school staff”.

Since December 21, public and private schools had availed of the free Covid-19 PCR testing for students aged 12 years and above to be able to physically attend face-to-face classes of the new term. Educational institutes had implemented all the precautionary measures to resume classes at all levels. But given the new and evolving circumstances, schools have welcomed the call for remote learning.