As part of plans to return to normalcy, the UAE has issued a set of guidelines for reopening of schools, nurseries and universities in the next academic year in September.
According to official spokesperson for Ministry of Education, Anoud Abdullah Al Hajj, a plan is underway to discuss the possibility of resuming studies in all governmental and private educational institutions by adhering to stringent precautionary measures.
All schools are required to adhere to the norms of checking temperature of all students, administrative staff and teachers on a daily basis.
Schools should maintain social distancing as per the health authority guidelines and reduce the classroom capacity. No student gatherings, trips, assemblies and group activities will be conducted, Al Hajj said.
Sterilization of classrooms, laboratories and other facilities need to be done on a regular basis, she said.
The schools should ensure that the students do not share meals.
The official said the capacity of school buses will be reduced to 30 percent in order to maintain social distancing and temperature of each student will be recorded before boarding the bus.
The health and safety official in every educational institution will implement the precautionary measures. A nursing staff need to be present in all campuses to ensure that a safe environment is available to reduce risks to students.
Individuals offering support and maintenance services will not be allowed to enter the institutions during the school hours, Al Hajj said, adding that the university will have to maintain the required precautionary measures.
The following are the guidelines listed to be followed for reopening of schools and universities as advised by the Ministry of Education:
- Temperatures of all students and teaching staff to be checked.
- Physical distancing to be maintained
- Classroom capacity to be reduced.
- All areas to be sanitised regularly.
- Meals should not be shared by students.
- Assemblies, parties, camps, sports games, to be limited.
- Bus capacity to be reduced to 30 percent.
- Each education facility should have a health officer. Nursing departments at schools should take steps to help reduce risk of infection.
- Parents should monitor the health of their children and keep the school informed in case the child tests positive for COVID-19.
- As for students with underlying health conditions, the decision will be taken on case-by-case basis.
