Schools in Abu Dhabi aim for high vaccination rates to lift Covid rules

School principals in Abu Dhabi hope more pupils will get vaccinated against Covid-19 after the authorities announced protocols to ease restrictions in schools based on their immunisation rates.

Abu Dhabi’s Department of Education and Knowledge said schools with the best vaccination rates will be able to relax physical distancing rules and allow pupils to go outside without wearing masks.

The initiative is due to come into force in the second term of the academic year.

Under the Blue Schools Initiative, a colour-coded tier system will be established.

This will be based on the percentage of the school population immunised against the coronavirus and will determine the extent to which safety procedures can be eased.

School principals say challenges remain to reach the top tier because some parents are still hesitant about getting their children vaccinated.

Pupils in Abu Dhabi aged 16 and above must be vaccinated to enter their school.

Jeff Evans, principal at Global English School in Al Ain, said he hoped the school, where 950 pupils are enrolled, would reach a vaccination rate of 50 per cent soon.

“Even if we could get to 50 to 60 per cent, that would be great,” he said.

“If we get to 85 per cent we can almost be back to normal and that would be the goal for most schools. But it will depend on parents’ views and wishes.

“I think this initiative will accelerate the progress with [vaccinations]. Most parents and children want to get back to normality.”

He plans to ask the authorities whether pupils who want to be vaccinated can receive their doses at school.

Under the Blue Schools Initiative, schools will advance through colour-coded tiers as their vaccination rate rises.

The tiers are orange (less than 50 per cent of school population vaccinated), yellow (5064 per cent), green (65-84 per cent), and blue (85 per cent and above).

Schools will enjoy more privileges as they move up a tier. The benefits include the relaxation of physical distancing and mask-wearing rules, as well as the reintroduction of extra-curricular activities such as team and contact sports.

George Mathew, principal at Gems United Indian School in Abu Dhabi, said 1,200 of the 3,650 pupils at the school had returned to in-person classes. About half of them and nearly all 270 staff were immunised.

“Some of the parents are still hesitating to take the vaccine. If they are not sending their child it’s indicative that they are not feeling confident to take it,” he said.

He hopes the school will reach the vaccination rate to qualify for the orange tier soon.

“When we keep moving through the tiers we get more opportunities to have social gatherings, and we have more freedom to move,” he said.

“Children can be themselves and the relaxation we get due to tier movement will encourage the pupils. That is how we will put Covid-19 behind us.”

Schools will enjoy more privileges as they move through the tiers, including the relaxation of mask measures