With the new academic year 2020-2021 all set to begin for millions of students across the country, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said that health and safety of students and teachers is the top priority of the government.

Ahead of the start of the new academic year 2020-2021, Sheikh Mohammed reviewed the preparations and various precautionary measures implemented by schools for the protection of the students amid the pandemic. During the review meeting, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; and Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, were also present. Minister of Education Hussain Al Hammadi and Minister of State for Public Education Jameela Al Muheiri explained the details of the presentation related to the preparedness of the schools for the new academic year.

During the meeting, Sheikh Mohammed asserted that he is looking forward to a safe start of the new school year with necessary precautionary measures in place for the students and teachers in the Emirates. He emphasised that it is the joint responsibility between school and home to ensure a safe and secure educational environment for the students across the country.

"We look forward to a safe start and in accordance with the best safety standards for more than a million students within the education system in the Emirates," Sheikh Mohammed said.

Keeping in mind that smart learning is the future, Sheikh Mohammed further noted that the UAE has made various investments in the advancement of digital infrastructure since distance learning will become an integral part of the educational system amid current circumstances.

"The UAE is well aware of the importance of smart learning as it invested earlier in the digital infrastructure. Distance learning will be an integral part of the educational system... This is the future," His Highness added.

During the presentation, Al Hammadi and Al Muheiri explained various safety protocols that are going to be implemented in schools across the country to ensure the health and safety of the students and teachers. These precautionary measures include various regulations such as wearing face masks, maintaining social distancing, sanitising regularly among other rules. Al Hammadi also presented the details of a plan which will ensure that students from all levels will have access to education and the academic year 2020-2021 will smoothly resume at priorly fixed dates across all educational institutions in the UAE.

Taking guidance from the directives of the UAE's leadership, the Education Ministry has taken proactive measures to manage the education system in the country. Al Hammadi added that the ministry has established a modern vision by offering smart solutions towards the creation of a safe educational environment such that desired goals for the welfare of the students can be achieved.

He also explained that the ministry decided to implement a hybrid model of learning after several rounds of extensive talks and consultations with relevant national authorities.

"Many scenarios were drafted based on available information on the overall health situation around the country and its effect on the education system, as well as on the best educational solutions to be adopted," Al Hammadi said.

At the same time, he noted that the ministry has expressed keenness in inviting opinions of the parents in the decision-making process such that a suitable education system can be established that they would like their children to pursue. Taking note of this idea, the ministry decided to allow a choice between standard education and remote learning for the first semester.

A stimulation of children's attendance in schools was also carried out by the students to understand various challenges and opportunities for any improvement in the education process. The ministry is also closely monitoring the physical attendance of students in schools noting that it will provide gradually with time - 25 percent at the start of the year, then 50 percent, then 75 percent and finally 100 percent amid prevailing pandemic circumstances.

Al Hammadi also presented the details related to higher education, asserting that several meetings were held with officials from higher education institutions to explore the possibilities of resuming classes and adopting related mechanisms. These mechanisms have been adopted noting that the current academic year is going to be a mixture of distance learning and physical learning in the university campuses.

He also notified that the decision to re-open educational institutions in the post-pandemic process was taken after consulting and coordinating with relevant national authorities, including the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA), the Ministry of Health and Prevention, Abu Dhabi Executive Council, the Dubai Executive Council, the Council for Education and Human Resources, the health authorities in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the Department of Education and Knowledge in Abu Dhabi, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai, the Sharjah Private Education Authority, and the Sharjah Education Council.

Al Muheiri presented the plans approved by the ministry for the resumption of private school education in the country, asserting that each school can choose the ideal model for them from several operational models developed for smooth education process, including hybrid education, full-time attendance, part-time attendance, and day and week shifts for students and teaching staff.

She also explained that several procedures and protocols have been put in place for the safety of children in nurseries and childcare centres during the pandemic. Adding that various preparations have been made for teaching education programmes to workers in nurseries and childcare centres through e-platforms, she noted that the NCEMA is currently reviewing the situation and will take an appropriate decision accordingly.

Al Muheiri also explained various protocols implemented by the ministry to ensure the safety of students, adding that they carried out a survey on the opinions of parents, schools and private sector employers from schools and nurseries to assess the situation at the ground level and draft a suitable plan for the welfare of the community.

WAM