UAE fights Covid: Schools focus on vaccination ahead of in-person classes

Abu Dhabi - On-site classes would resume for all grades in Abu Dhabi schools from February 14.

As schools in Abu Dhabi are set to reopen for in-person lessons next week, school administrators and education regulators are focussing on vaccination and ensuring that Covid-19 precautionary measures are in place.

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The Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee on Wednesday announced that on-site classes would resume for all grades in Abu Dhabi schools from February 14.

The committee also confirmed its approval of the preventive protocol specific to schooling community — academic and administrative staff and students — that will be implemented until the end of the school year.

However, the authority reiterated that e-learning remains an option until the end of the school year.

The announcement came as the Ministry of Education also announced the return of public school students to on-site classes from next Sunday.

The move — taken in coordination with the Emirates Foundation for School Education — comes after the success of the previously announced plan of action for recovery and safe return of students to schools.

Private school pupils in Abu Dhabi were set to return to classrooms on January 17, but the decision was put on hold because of an uptick in Covid-19 cases in the UAE.

The authorities said the decision was taken to safeguard the “health and safety of all those who are linked to the school community”.

And with the latest announcement on school reopening, many schools are expected to maintain a hybrid learning system as students return to campuses for in-class lessons.

In preparation for face-to-face classes, Abu Dhabi private schools, in coordination with the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek), Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha) and the Ministry of Health and Prevention (Mohap), have organised vaccination drives for teachers and administrative staff.

Earlier this week, Adek said that over 15,000 staff members – about 60 per cent of the total education sector staff – received the first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine during the voluntary drive.

Held between January 17 and 26, the vaccination drive was open to 222 private and charter schools throughout Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Al Dhafra region. Each participating school was designated a day to conduct vaccinations on campus.

“Our utmost priority is to ensure the health and safety of our education and school community, and to support the government’s efforts to combat Covid-19,” said Ayesha Al Blooshi, Adek Covid-19 incident management team lead.

“This is our national duty, and our community has demonstrated unwavering support for the vaccination drive, with 60 per cent uptake across eligible schools and personnel. We applaud our stakeholders’ commitment to aid the UAE’s vaccination agenda in support of a return to normal life.”

Students’ return to schools will be rolled out in a gradual and phased manner for all academic levels in public schools across the UAE until the end of the school year, it said.

The ministry has also previously announced that the option of distance education would remain available until the end of the current school year to ensure a smooth transition for students from remote to in-person classes again.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com