H.H. Sheikh Hamdan reviews preparations for new school year

Dubai's plans and preparations for the new academic year have been reviewed by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council.

During a visit to the offices of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Sheikh Hamdan reaffirmed that the safety and wellbeing of students and teachers are among the highest priorities of the government.

He also expressed his confidence in the plans drawn up by the Ministry of Education, the KHDA and school managements to ensure a safe educational environment.

Private schools in Dubai have been given the option to choose the most suitable mode of education, depending on the size, location and number of pupils.

They can operate in single or multiple shifts and can also offer partial or full distance learning alternatives based on their agreement with parents.

Distance learning has taught us many valuable lessons. We now seek further innovative solutions for education in Dubai, to ease the learning process for students and parents, while enhancing the quality achievements of our education system.

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) August 5, 2020

During my visit to @KHDA, I was briefed on preparations for the new school year. I emphasized the importance of implementing necessary measures to protect the health and safety of students and staff at all Dubai schools, and ensure a smooth resumption of their academic journeys. pic.twitter.com/kn8GtlpvhN

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) August 5, 2020

Precautionary measures that should be followed in schools include:

• Temperature screening of all students and staff at entry points to the school
• Maintaining physical distance as recommended by relevant health authorities
• Reducing the head-count capacity in classrooms, limiting gatherings and suspending group activities such as school celebrations and sports events
• Organising and managing the students’ working day including mealtimes to avoid high concentrations of students in one place, and sterilising the school building, classrooms, laboratories and other facilities regularly
• Preventing the support and maintenance service staff from entering the school when students and staff are present, as well as appointing a trained health and safety official to ensure that people and processes in the school comply with health and safety protocols