Pupils going back to classrooms in the UAE on Monday is about much more than schools reopening and will signify a community reconnecting, headteachers have said.
In-class teaching will resume from Monday, May 11, after a week of remote learning due to the Iranian missile threat.
The announcement was made on Sunday by the Ministry of Education.
“Schools are at their very best when they are full of energy, connection and a shared sense of purpose, and there is nothing quite like seeing our classrooms and corridors come back to life,” said Simon Jodrell, principal of Jebel Ali School in Dubai.
There is nothing quite like seeing our classrooms and corridors come back to life
Simon Jodrell,
Jebel Ali School
“Our priority has always been to ensure a safe, calm and positive return, and we are ready to provide that for every student. It’s not just about reopening but also reconnecting as a community, and we look forward to seeing our students and families tomorrow.”
Fiona Cottam, principal of Hartland International School, said the aim was to make the most of the final few weeks of the academic year.
“While we appreciate that, this may feel like relatively late notification, schools are ready and prepared to reopen and hope that our parents have the full confidence that we will continue to implement safety protocols as have been approved previously,” she said.
“We’re very much looking forward to being back in school tomorrow. We have communicated with parents and staff already.”
Disruption in learning
The government previously mandated that the education sector shift to remote learning at the beginning of March, after the start of the Iran war.
Schools and nurseries across the Emirates began reopening their doors on April 20, with strict safety rules in place.
Aside from the switch to remote learning, international A-level and GCSE exams were cancelled.
UK education boards confirmed this month that summer exams for school leavers and university hopefuls would be scrapped – potentially putting academic aspirations on hold.
Schools are dealing with portfolios, coursework submissions and teacher-predicted grades to ensure pupils receive results that reflect their hard work.