Safety first as onsite learning resumes in Dubai schools
Sharing of staff vaccination data, ‘cleaning breaks’ among new school protocols in place
Many schools in Dubai have been sharing the staff vaccination data with their parent communities and are adding frequent ‘cleaning breaks’ to their daily timetable so that students get to wash hands more often.
This is being done in a bid to allay the fear of parents who are wary of sending their children to schools for face-to-face learning after a steep rise in infections.
School leaders also say that a small section of parents who are willing to send their wards to school seem to be accepting Covid-19 with milder outcomes as a part of their life.
Many of them reckon onsite learning is imperative to satisfactory learning milestones and one must learn to live with Covid.
Dr Sheela Menon, principal, Ambassador School, Dubai said: “In consideration of the increase in the number of Covid–19 cases in children and families, we have been given approval by KHDA (Knowledge and Human Development Authority) for distance learning for two weeks, till January 14. As a school, we have been sharing with parents the Covid -19 as well as the staff vaccination data. Most of the staff members have taken the booster dose as well.”
She adds: “At present a large majority of parents are apprehensive of sending children to school for various reasons — chief among them being the fact that kids below 12 are not yet vaccinated. Additionally, reports about a spike in the number of cases even among the vaccinated and the pace at which the new Omicron variant is spreading is adding to parents’ anxiety. Moreover, we are experiencing more children being impacted with family members getting infected.”
Educational institutions are constantly reviewing the situation, taking all possible steps to ensure that the health and safety protocols are being followed in the strictest manner possible.
Menonsaid:“thereisasmallpercentage of parents, especially those of students in the lower grades, who want to send their wards to school and seem to have accepted variants of Covid as a part and parcel of life. When in school, frequent breaks are added to ensure children get to wash hands often, and sharing of resources has been stopped for the longest time possible.”
Schools are also following added precautions for this term as all extracurricular activities (ECA), school trips, performances, assemblies, events, and internal gatherings have been cancelled, while there are no physical education (PE) classes.
Additionally, no catering services are permitted, with all students having to bring packed lunches.
Campbell Douglas, Principal / CEO, GEMS Wellington Academy – Al Khail, says: “There has been a mix of parents genuinely concerned for the safety of their children and those that cannot send their children to school due to there being positive cases among close contacts. We have had concerned parents asking us about the protocols in place for the return to face-to-face learning,andwehavetoldthemthat we are strictly following the protocols outlined by KHDA for a safe return to school. Our relationship with the parent community is built on mutual trust and a shared interest in face-to-face learning being the preferred way to educate.
Parent councils in schools are being consulted and the designated body also feeds back to the institutions with any concerns among parents so that it can be addressed. “The school has been quick to reassure parents and students that all protocols are being followed and will continue to do so until this phase passes, and we are advised that restrictions can be eased again,” adds Douglas.
As a school, we have been sharing with parents the Covid -19 as well as the staff vaccination data. Dr Sheela Menon, Principal, Ambassador School, Dubai