Dubai students ditching online classes to return to schools
TRUST IN COVID MEASURES, ISOLATION FATIGUE AND VACCINE SPUR TREND
Some Dubai schools have this term seen a huge spike in students switch from distance learning to direct classes on campus.
School principals said growing confidence in Covid -19 safety measures at school, a desire to experience school life again and the arrival of vaccines for the coronavirus are some reasons why more students are coming to school.
Last term, before the winter break, 47 per cent of Dubai private school pupils were exclusively engaged in distance learning until November, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority had then said. The rest were coming to school for classes or doing a mix of both.
In January, after the winter break, GEMS Modern Academy saw the number of students attend class at school jump from around 550 to almost 1,600, said Nargish Khambatta, principal and CEO of the school.
We’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of students returning to school. I suppose there is also isolation fatigue and everyone is eager to get back to school, confident that safety measures are in place.”
Nargish Khambatta | Principal, GEMS Modern Academy
‘Isolation fatigue’
“Parents have realised, after the success of the classes in school last term, that schools are safe spaces to send their children and we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of students returning to school. I suppose there is also isolation fatigue and everyone is eager to get back to normal school, confident that the right safety measures are in place,” she added.
Another school, GEMS FirstPoint School — The Villa, saw 92 pupils make the switch to in-person classes, said Matthew Tompkins, the school’s principal and CEO. It also had 38 new joiners at the beginning of this term. “We attribute this rise to the robust, consistent and transparent stance that
the school has taken during the pandemic,” he added.
‘Record of safety’
Some schools already had almost all students back on campus last term, and the gap has narrowed even more this term. At Dubai British School, Jumeirah Park, less than five per cent of students are attending classes through distance learning, said executive principal Brendon Fulton. “Since the beginning of the academic year, we are now seeing even less families opting to keep their children at home. We are pleased that many families are now far more confident to have their children in the school given our record of safety thus far,” he added.
Pressure from students
“We have also seen a lot of pressure from students on their parents, as they desperately want to join their friends back in the classroom. For these parents, we’ve walked them virtually through our safety protocols and so most are now happy for their children to return to school,” Fulton said.
Shahida Patel, Head of Admissions
— Taaleem Schools, said: “We have had an overall increase in the number of students attending our schools for the second term, this is because of a significant rise in new joiners. Indications are that many of those who have chosen online learning for whatever reason will shortly be looking to join their peers on campus. The majority of our schools are above 90 per cent for on-site attendance.”
Meanwhile, Credence High
School has seen the ratio of face-to-face students rise from eight per cent to 30 per cent this term, said principal and CEO Deepika Thapar Singh. “Among the many reasons, the most evident reason for the students to come to school for in-person learning is the students’ and parents’ trust in us concerning safety protocols followed at school. Besides that, the school has made conscious efforts to educate them about how important it is for the
children to come to school for learning as well as physical and social growth which doesn’t happen within the four walls of their homes,” she added.
‘The fear has subsided’
Mohammad Ali Kottakkulam, Principal, Gulf Indian High School, said, “The fear of people to send their wards to school has subsided and more and more are expressing their readiness to send them for face to face lessons.” He added that the vaccines are one reason why there is less concern; another reason being the “recognition that students need some more personal attention, grooming and remediation in a physical way, with special focus on the examinations and practical lessons.”