Covid-19: Parents and children in Abu Dhabi are excited about starting face-to-face classes-News

Students returning to school from the new school year in September will be a great relief for parents and children in Abu Dhabi.

Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, parents have had to balance work and monitor their children at home to participate in remote courses. On the other hand, children have been missing school activities such as sports and playing with friends.

In June of this year, the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Committee stated that it had approved the return of students to school in the 2021-2022 school year.

Egyptian father Hassan Ihsan said that he is very happy that the children will return to school next semester for face-to-face learning.

“I believe that our children can now safely return to school for physical education. I have vaccinated my 13-year-old son to prepare for the new school year,” he added, adding that he and his wife are both working and they Found it difficult to monitor the two boys in grades 6 and 8. They have been attending classes remotely from home since last year.

Ihsan also believes that children are more able to concentrate in face-to-face courses than online courses.

“In addition to missing the physical interaction with the teacher, the children also missed a lot of practical skills and classroom activities.”

His son Ahmed said that when he returns to school, he will be happy to see his friends again.

“It’s been more than a year since I went to school at home. I missed hanging out with my classmates. I miss playing football and basketball with my friends at school,” Ahmed said.

UAE working mother Sarah Mohammed (Sarah Mohammed) said that due to her busy schedule, she has been working hard to prepare online courses for 5th and 6th grade children.

“I am a working mother and it has been difficult to monitor children during distance learning. I hope that my children will come back to school in the new school year,” she said, adding that sometimes she has to postpone work until the children finish their morning lessons. , Which affected her work efficiency.

Her 9-year-old daughter Salama said that she would love to see the teacher and play with her classmates.

“I want to go back to school and meet my teachers and friends,” Salama said. “I’m more active and energetic when attending physical education classes because I interact directly with the teacher and play with friends during the break.”

Private schools provide a blended learning model

Neeraj Bhargava, principal of the Abu Dhabi Indian School with more than 5,000 registered students, said the school is keen to get students back to the classroom in the new school year.

“The school will continue to adopt a blended learning model, where students will have two and three days of online learning when they return to class in the new school year,” he said.

“We have a lot of students. If we are to implement social distancing measures, we cannot accommodate all students in the school at the same time.”

Bargava pointed out that almost all school staff are vaccinated against Covid-19.

“Many senior students have also been vaccinated. We are now seeking permission from the authorities to allow us to arrange vaccination plans at school for students 12 years of age and older,” the principal said.

He added that the school has made a request but has not yet been approved by ADEK.

George Mathew, principal and CEO of GEMS United Indian School (UIS) in Abu Dhabi, said that in the face of the pandemic, it has customized a safe learning bubble.

“The number of students invited to share spaces has increased, and we are ready to welcome more students to the school in September to experience the joy of collaborative learning,” he said.

“Our teachers are perfectly suited to provide a blended learning model that encourages actual participation in the school and online remote access.”

Mathew added that their transportation provider has also strengthened safety protocols and increased their bus fleet to ensure that more students go to school safely.

He said: “UIS believes in the’safety first’ rule and is prepared to meet Covid safety measures to meet the needs of students who choose to teach face-to-face with teachers.”

The principal pointed out that their teachers are using this summer vacation to accumulate learning experience. Face-to-face and distance learners systematically develop cognitive thinking skills and learner behavior, which will succeed in school, workplace and later life.

Matthew pointed out that more than 90% of their employees are vaccinated against Covid-19.

Ismail Sebowo

As a professional journalist from Kampala, Uganda, Ismail is a happy father with a strong attachment to the family and noble values ​​to humans. For the past 13 years, he has been engaged in journalism in the UAE, covering the country’s parliament (FNC) and criminal activities, including the Abu Dhabi police, prosecutors and courts. He also reports on important issues in education, public health, and the environment, and has a keen interest in stories about human interests. In fulfilling his reporting duties, he served the Ugandan community in Abu Dhabi because he wanted to see his fellow citizens happy. Exercise and reading are part of his free time.