The Ministry of Education (MoE) and the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) have recently announced transferring a group of schools in multiple emirates in the UAE to the system of online learning to ensure the health and safety of the students and teaching staff. This decision was taken by the education authorities in the UAE while conducting COVID-19 tests of teachers and administrative staff in schools ahead of the enrolment of students in accordance with the plan devised by the Education Ministry.

While carrying out the COVID-19 tests of the staff, a number of suspected cases of infection were found among the employees. Therefore, the decision was taken to implement the precautionary measures until the results of the laboratory tests arrive.

The MoE and NCEMA have also stated that school administrations will directly communicate with parents to update them about the necessary details related to the learning system and health status of the teachers. Furthermore, they have urged all stakeholders in the education sector, including teachers, school administrators, students and their parents to cooperate with the authorities and disclose any details related to any suspected cases or contacts with people infected with COVID-19, or if anyone showing any infections symptoms, such that efforts can be taken to control the spread of the virus.

At the same time, parents are also suggested to not send their children to school in case they show any infection symptoms to ensure the health and safety of other students and teaching staff.  

The MoE and NCEMA have also appealed to the public to obtain relevant information related to the new school year from official sources only and to refrain from disseminating any rumours to ensure that individual privacy is maintained. Both the institutions have also affirmed that legal actions will be taken in coordination with the concerned authorities against any individual found violating the necessary precautionary and preventive measures.

WAM