UAE students are heading back to the classroom. The National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) has announced a gradual return to in-person learning, with pupils returning to the classroom commencing Monday January 24.
The change from distance learning to in-person learning will happen in two phases, according to the NCEMA. The first group of students returning to the classroom on Monday January 24 are kindergarten students, elementary school pupils, students in Grade 12 (Year 13 for the British system), as well as those who will take international exams, and pupils from higher education institutions. NCEMA states that higher education pupils will need to show a green pass on the Al Hosn app.
The second group, which is made up of all the rest of the academic levels, will return to in-person education starting Monday January 31.
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The Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee has also approved the gradual return to in-person learning for students starting Monday January 24. The two-part phased return applies to Abu Dhabi students at public and private schools, universities, colleges and training institutes.
In the capital, the first group of students returning to the classroom on Monday January 24 are kindergarten students, Grades 1 to 5 (Years 2 to 6), Grade 12 (Year 13), higher education students, as well as those preparing for international and national exams.
In Abu Dhabi, remote learning will continue for Grades 6 to 11 for the week of January 24. These students will return to the classroom the following week, commencing Monday January 31, as part of the phased approach.
All students returning to the classroom will need to provide a negative PCR test result that is less than 96 hours old, relevant to their specific return week. Additional PCR tests will need to be taken every two weeks.
Teachers must also have a negative PCR test result that is less than 96 hours old for the first day of in-person learning. Additionally, teachers and teaching staff must always maintain green status on the Al Hosn app inside educational premises.
The same COVID-19 protocols will apply to parents: They will need a 96-hour negative PCR test and an Al Hosn green pass to enter school premises.
Furthermore, students, teachers and administrative staff must sign a travel declaration and show negative PCR test results for Day One and Day Six from returning to the UAE after travelling.
It is recommended that PCR testing starts now to avoid overcrowding. Parents are also advised to confirm with their schools when their students are meant to return to in-person learning.
Want to continue with virtual learning? Parents wishing to keep their children learning remotely have that option.
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Existing precautionary measures will continue to apply and the coronavirus situation will be monitored. School sporting events and cultural activities will continue to follow preventative measures, but school trips are all suspended until further notice.
Many UAE students started the January 2022 term with two weeks of remote learning as a precautionary measure. The protocol was later extended by a week and it was approved by the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee.
After three weeks of distance learning in Abu Dhabi, week four of the term will start with in-person learning with all students back to in-person learning on week five, with distance learning still being an option for families that choose it.
From Mon Jan 24.
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