Public nurseries in Sharjah will reopen on October 4, authorities announced on Sunday.
The 28 public nurseries are for children whose parents work in the emirate's government departments.
Saeed Al Kaabi, chairman of Sharjah Education Council, said attendance priority would be given to children already registered at the nurseries, before opening up for new admissions.
He said the council would contact parents to find out if they plan to send their children into nursery or if they would rather continue with distance learning.
“We will review the numbers and then decide whether we will allow the registration of new children or instead decide to keep the already registered children, in order to ensure safety procedures are implemented,” he said.
Mr Al Kaabi said teachers and staff members would undergo training to ensure complete implementation of reopening safety guidelines.
Private nurseries and childcare centres across the UAE have yet to be given an opening date but, last week, the Ministry of Education and the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority said they would be able to resume operations if they follow a set of safety guidelines.
These include mandatory Covid-19 tests for employees every two weeks, regular disinfection of facilities and toys, temperature checks for children and staff, physical distancing of 1.5 metres, regulating movement of staff and children, and following up on everyone's health.
Children must be divided into groups according to age, and only one group is allowed in a maximum of 3.5 square metres.
Authorities will be carrying out regular inspections to ensure nurseries are following safety procedures while penalties will be imposed on ones found breaching procedures.
“This is great news for mothers who work in the public sector. As for me, a private sector employee, I’m impatiently waiting for private nurseries to reopen,” said Jordanian mother of three, Diana Izhiman.
“It has been very tough the past few months, my two-year-old son has become tense most of the time."
Schools reopen across the UAE on August 30
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Parents see off their children off to classes for the first time since March in August 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Naividh Pillai, aged 3, looks a little bewildered as he arrives for his first day at Gems Wellington Academy with sister Alaikha and parents Meera and Deepesh. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Gems Wellington Academy in Al Khail opens for the start of the school year. Antonie Robertson/The National -
Gems Wellington Academy in Al Khail opens for the start of the school year. Thermal monitors at the entrance scan people for signs of fever or high temperature. Antonie Robertson/The National -
Gems Wellington Academy in Al Khail opens for the start of the school year. Antonie Robertson / The National -
A pupil wearing a colourful face shield arrives at Horizon International School in Dubai on Sunday. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
A mother helps her son sanitise his hands as he arrives at Horizon school. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Children arrive for school at Horizon International School in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Children arrive for school at Horizon International School in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
A pupil gets her temperature checked at the entrance of Al Mizhar American Academy. Shruti Jain for The National -
Pupils return to Al Mizhar American Academy in Dubai. Shruti Jain for The National -
A staff member assists a pupil as Al Mizhar American Academy. Shruti Jain for The National -
Tarryn Patel, a homeroom teacher from South Africa, attends to her grade 1 pupil at Al Mizhar American Academy. Shruti Jain for The National -
Pupils are spaced apart at the cafetaria at Al Mizhar American Academy. Shruti Jain for The National
