Schools send pupils home early

dubai — Several schools in Dubai and Sharjah sent students back to their homes, with some declaring a half-day schedule as rain lashed out across the country on Monday morning.

Authorities gave schools the power to declare the day off as many Sharjah and Ajman school buses drove students back home due to bad weather conditions. Several private schools in Dubai announced class suspensions and early dismissal.

Parents received text messages and alerts from school administrators, informing them that buses were returning. Administrators also made their announcements on social media.

In a statement issued to Khaleej

Times, Amal BelHasa, CEO of development policies at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), said “schools in Dubai are empowered to make weather-related closure decisions, keeping in view the interests of child safety”. She confirmed that parents must be informed of all decisions about school closures.

An official at Sharjah Education Zone said public and private schools in the emirate have declared the day off based on the authority granted to them by the Ministry of Education and the Education Authority in Sharjah “to take the necessary measures to ensure maximum safety of students amid difficult weather conditions”.

However, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Education told Khaleej Times that public schools across the country resumed their schedules normally.

Dubai British School announced its closure early morning “due to the challenging travelling conditions caused by the weather”.

Some other schools declared an early drop-off.

The Dubai Scholars Private School notified parents regarding the early pick-up timings for their kids. JSS Private School, Dubai, notified parents of an “early dismissal at 11.30am due to poor weather”.

Al Sadiq Islamic English School in Qusais issued an announcement to parents, saying: “Due to the bad weather, the school will disperse at 11.40am. Students using their own transport can be picked up from school at 11.45am onwards.”

Delhi Private School, Dubai, had sent an alert to parents regarding the weather conditions. “Alert! Due to the unfavourable weather, the school will disperse at 11am today.” Gems Winchester Dubai informed parents that the school will be closed by 12.30pm.

The University of Sharjah and other schools in Ras Al Khaimah also shut its doors on Monday.

— Photos by M. Sajjad Pedestrians cross a flooded road in Al Mahatta, Sharjah, on Monday morning, while others in Al Qasmiya area help each other out as they wade in the waters with their pants rolled up and shoes taken off.