Coronavirus: How will schools enforce Covid-19 measures, UAE parents ask

Abu Dhabi - Reacting to the guidelines, parents in Abu Dhabi have sought clarity from schools on how they will be implemented.

Abu Dhabi schools have been given the green light to reopen after the summer break provided strict precautionary measures are implemented. The measures specified by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek) mandate Covid-19 tests for students and staff, mask use for students aged 12 and above and strict social distancing, among others.
Reacting to the guidelines, parents in Abu Dhabi have sought clarity from schools on how they will be implemented.
Indian resident Ashraf Ahmad, 45, has three kids aged 16, 13 and 9 enrolled at Model School Abu Dhabi. Like all parents, his top concern is his kids' safety.
"Each school system will need to evaluate its health and safety measures to fit its resources and capabilities across four major categories: Physical infrastructure, scheduling and staffing, transportation and food service, and health and behavioural policies," said Ahmad. "School systems need to consider which behavioural policies and norms are enforceable during the school day. Temperature checks for anyone entering a school campus may be sensible, yet contactless thermometers are expensive and may be in short supply."
He noted that school staff may find it difficult to ensure that all students wear masks. "However, frequent scheduled campus-wide hand washing and sanitation can help keep the environment and hands relatively clean."
Mother of two Sanobar Sabah said it was "comforting" to see the precautionary guidelines issued by Adek. "We would like to know how much of social distancing can be followed with little children, and how children will be made to wear masks," she said.
She said she would like to see the precautionary measures fully implemented. "We want our children to remain safe after they return to school campus."
ismail@khaleejtimes.com