Abu Dhabi Students To Return To Schools

The Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee has approved the physical return of students to schools for the 2021/2022 academic year.

The decision came following consultation and collaboration with parents, teachers, principals and school operators across Abu Dhabi, conducted in May and June this year.

It also follows the vaccination of more than 80 per cent of teachers and school staff, including all maintenance and security teams.

The back-to-school strategy aligns with international best practices, and involves all key stakeholders including the school community, health authorities, Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) and all other relevant government authorities.

Survey

As part of the consultation, ADEK conducted an independent survey on schools reopening to help inform decision making for the next academic year.

More than 117,000 parents representing more than 230,000 students across public, private and charter schools, and including both UAE nationals and expats, participated in the Parents Survey on Schools Reopening.

About 70 per cent of students are expected to return to in-school learning, with 88 per cent of parents saying it was more beneficial for their child’s education.

Parents also believe vaccination will further enhance their confidence about the safety of schools. Currently, the Pfizer vaccine is available for children aged 12 and above.

A Sinopharm immune bridge study for children was recently launched in the UAE to examine the immune response to the vaccine in children aged 3 to 17, with the emirate planning to make the vaccine available to children in the near future.

The study also shows that parents are comfortable reducing physical distancing requirements, which will enable students to attend school more days per week.

The Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee has approved in-school learning for 2021/2022 academic year, following consultation with parents, teachers, principals and school operators, and the vaccination of more than 80 per cent of teachers and school staff. pic.twitter.com/UnOYxMyQtv

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@admediaoffice) June 17, 2021

Protocols and Hybrid Learning

School operational protocols related to Covid-19 will be published by 15 August.

The committee also approved providing full-time remote learning as an option to parents who request it, if offered by their child’s school.

The committee noted that the physical return to schools would be continuously monitored and evaluated to ensure the ongoing safety of the school community, and that it relies on the cooperation of the entire school community in following precautionary measures to protect the health and safety of students, teachers and school staff.

This article was previously published on UAE Moments.To see the original article, click here