Abu Dhabi school students to return to campus in upcoming academic year

The Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee has approved the physical return of students to schools for the upcoming 2021-2022 academic year.

However, full-time remote learning will be allowed to parents who request it, if the option is offered by their child’s school.

“While we believe that remote learning is not a perfect substitute for physical learning, we must ensure that everyone is comfortable to return to in-school instruction as much as possible,” said Sara Musallam, chairwoman of Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK).

You shared your opinions on a return to school this September. Here is a sneak peak into what the survey revealed!#EmpowerMinds #EmpowerEducation pic.twitter.com/XFYz6jdHEe

— التعليم والمعرفة (@ADEK_tweet) June 18, 2021

Over 80 per cent of teachers and school staff, including all maintenance and security teams, are now reportedly vaccinated.

In a statement it said that the decision to permit all school to return to their campus was reached following consultation with parents, teachers, principals and school operators across the emirate, conducted in May and June this year.

As part of the consultation, ADEK conducted an independent survey on possibility of schools reopening. More than 117,000 parents representing over 230,000 students across public, private and charter schools, and including both UAE nationals and expats, participated in the Parents Survey on Schools Reopening.

About 70 per cent of students are expected to return to in-school learning, with 88 per cent of parents saying it was more beneficial for their child’s education.

The study also shows that parents are comfortable reducing physical distancing requirements, which will enable students to attend school more days per week.

Parents also believe vaccination will further enhance their confidence about the safety of schools. Currently, the Pfizer vaccine is available for children aged 12 and above.

Read: UAE initiates Sinopharm vaccine study for children aged 3-17

A Sinopharm immune bridge study for children was recently launched in the UAE to examine the immune response to the vaccine in children aged 3 to 17, with the emirate planning to make the vaccine available to children in the near future, according to the statement.