Sharjah private schools extend distance learning for two weeks

Pupils were initially due to return to in-person classes on September 13 but will now carry on with e-learning until September 27

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

Distance learning will continue for all pupils attending private schools in Sharjah.

Children have been learning remotely at private schools in the emirate since the start of the new academic year on August 30.

Pupils were initially due to return to in-person classes on September 13 but will now carry on with e-learning for another fortnight, until September 27.

Authorities said the decision was taken to limit the spread of Covid-19.

“The Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Team in the Emirate of Sharjah and the Sharjah Private Education Authority have decided to extend remote learning for all levels in private schools in the emirate for another two weeks, starting from next Sunday, September 13, until Thursday, September 24,” reported Wam, the UAE’s news agency.

“The move is part of the precautionary measures applied by the government to limit the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Students of all academic levels in private schools in the Emirate of Sharjah studied remotely during the first and second weeks of the academic year 2020-2021, based on the previous decision issued by the team and the authority, which confirmed their constant follow-up of the situation on the ground, to ensure the safety of students and teaching staff.”

Pupils in other emirates have returned to the classroom, but not all schools have brought children back for in-person lessons full-time.

Schools in Abu Dhabi were given the option, subject to approval, to allow children into school full-time; on alternating days, for half days; alternating weeks; or a combination of the above.

Parents were also given the option to choose distance learning for their children for the first term.

Classes have been limited to a maximum of 15 for year two and above, with bubbles of 10 for the youngest groups.

Other safety measures include physical distancing of 1.5 metres and mandatory masks for year two and above.

The Ministry of Education, which has overall responsibility for all schools across the Emirates, set out rules for when schools must transfer to full-time distance learning.

Using a calculation based on the number of new cases in the community to determine the threat to schools, the guidelines set out four levels of risk: low, moderate, high and extreme levels.

In the event of an extreme risk to safety, which is reached when there are at least 36 cases per 100,000 population in seven days, in-class lessons are halted, with a return to full-time distance learning.

At high risk – when there are between 21 and 35 cases per 100,000 people – schools must scale back capacity to 15 per cent and allow only pupils whose parents are front-line workers or have no childcare to attend classes in person.

A moderate risk, defined as 6 to 20 cases per 100,000 population in seven days, would require to schools to function at half their usual capacity and provide distance learning and homeschooling options to parents.

Low risk is up to 5 cases per 100,000 population in seven days. In this event, schools can operate as normal – with social distancing and the wearing of face masks.

Schools are also transferred to distance learning for a period when two or more cases are detected at any risk level.

If just one pupil or staff member tests positive, the rooms used by anyone diagnosed with the virus are temporarily closed and sterilised.

All contacts must also quarantine.

But if any additional cases are discovered, anywhere on site, the school will close and all pupils will transfer to distance learning for a period.

"In case more than one student or faculty member is infected at any stage of risk:

"The educational establishment will move to the higher level of risk, and study will be suspended and totally transferred to distance learning for not less than 14 days."