New academic year brings out the nerves in Abu Dhabi parents

Smiles, welcomes, trepidation and a few tears marked the start of a new term for 360,000 pupils in Abu Dhabi.

Dr Amal Al Qubaisi, director general of Abu Dhabi Education Council, joins a young pupil at Al Dhabiania School during a visit for Sunday’s first day of the academic year. Courtesy Adec

ABU DHABI // Parents and pupils arriving for the first day of school at Raha International School (RIS) on Sunday were greeted by the welcoming smile of Jasmine Taylor, head of early years.

“Good morning, how are you?” Ms Taylor said as she shook parents’ hands. “You’re joining EY1 today?”

“Excellent,” she said, directing the families toward the primary school building, next to the playground, where a board listed all the early year one pupils’ names and classrooms.

The school has accepted about 400 new children this academic year, who were offered an orientation session on Sunday morning.

Across the emirate of Abu Dhabi, about 128,000 public school pupils were returning to 255 government schools. Another 230,000 were attending 185 private schools.

“It’s a bit nerve-racking to be quite honest because it’s the first day for the little one,” said Neidhal Dahdal, an Australian whose youngest daughter, Maria, was entering early year one at RIS.

Maria’s mother, Despina Dahdal, said: “For her, it’s a new school, a new atmosphere and she doesn’t know the teacher yet. We sat her down and we showed her the toys and things and she started playing.”

Linda Al Kharat, an Emirati, remembered when her eldest son started school six years ago. “It was really hard. After dropping him off, I waited in my car crying all the time,” she said.

On Sunday, when it came time for Mira, 4, to start school, Mrs Al Kharat said she was better prepared to handle the emotions.

“There was a few drops of tears here and there, saying ‘are you going to stay, are you going to leave me, where are you going to go?’” she said. “I got used to it.”

Roy Dabbous, a Lebanese-Canadian father of three boys, agreed that sending his children off to school gets easier over time.

“It’s kind of the third instalment, so it’s pretty good,” he said of his son Zak’s first day of school.

“It’s more exciting than hard,” said Zak’s mother, Rola. “And he’s excited, so it helps that he actually wants to go to his older brothers’ school.”

Zak’s older brother, Omar, 11, said he was looking forward to the new academic year.

“I’m entering Grade Six right now and I’m really, really excited because I’m moving on to a different tier, I’m going to middle school. So I’m very, very excited to meet new teachers to meet new friends, have like a new start, you could say,” he said.

Abdulaziz Al Ameri, an 11-year-old sixth-grader, had mixed emotions about returning to school.

“I’m nervous and excited,” said the Emirati.

His father, Dr Hatem Al Ameri, laughed, and said he would miss having his son around the house. However, he was happy the boy was returning to school after a long summer.

“It’s another year, so we have to go through it with all the obstacles and all the hiccups,” he said.

“School nowadays is not the same as it used to be, it’s become more complex, there are more interactions. There are more influences from outside.

“I told him, the right thing is always the right thing wherever you are. He just has to watch himself and behave and do well.”