The Department of Education and Knowledge in Abu Dhabi has requested from the private schools in the emirate a list of students who are unable to follow their education online (distance education) because they do not have internet services or a computer at home, stressing the importance of providing it with information as soon as possible and before the start of the spring break, stressing It will activate the mechanisms of distance education in cooperation with its partners from educational institutions, to ensure the continuity of education.
In detail, the schools sent a form to the students ’families, and invited them to quickly respond in case they have any obstacles in the process of implementing e-learning, including questions about the presence of the Internet in the home, the student's possession of a computer, and invited them to quickly answer to make the necessary arrangements for the application of distance education During the school drop-out period after the spring break.
Private schools have sent a questionnaire to the students ’families, seeking their opinions on the best way to implement the distance education system, including inquiries about the possibility of the student dealing with a computer, laptop, or tablet device, or a mobile phone, while he is at home, In the event that it is possible to deal or access the device and if one of these devices is present in the home, does the child have a device of his own or is it shared with his siblings, or with the parents.
The questionnaire included questions about the period of the child’s presence in the home during school hours throughout the period of study disruption, and who will take care of him, and made choices that included no one who will be alone, and will be taken care of by an older brother or sister, or by a nanny, or by one of the Relatives, or a family friend, plus an option that will be taken care of by the mother.
The questionnaire asked whether it is necessary to teach (distance education). Will families stick to the school and work protein by eight in the morning, while continuing only for short breaks until two in the afternoon, and will parents of students examine the specific and completed tasks every day for their children, in addition to The extent of their ability to run special lessons for the teacher, and the extent of the child's ability to follow the lessons at a certain time of the school day.
The Department organized, yesterday, yesterday, a meeting for all principals of private schools in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, to ensure the continuity of the educational process in cases of crises and emergency conditions, and take precautionary measures and preventive measures necessary to reduce the possibility of transmission of the emerging corona virus (Covid 19).
During the meeting, the department asked each school to submit a work plan within 24 hours on how it communicates with students and ensure that they are not affected by a study, and the best way through which to continue studying through distance education, and how schools interact with students to ensure that they are not affected, especially since schools follow curricula Different tuition.
While principals of private schools confirmed that the distance education implementation plan includes providing a means of communication for students who are unable to own a computer, noting that there is a proposal to hand over to the students a computer with a signature of a pledge to return it after regular schooling.
They pointed out that resorting to this solution will be the easiest, especially with the expectation of a small percentage of students not having access to a computer, as schools tend to provide video lessons on their websites throughout the day, to allow families who have more than one son to share a computer or tablet One, organize their times and follow their lessons.
Challenges and proposals
The Department of Education and Knowledge in Abu Dhabi listened to the views of school principals regarding the challenges that could face schools, most notably the approaching date of international exams and the Ministerial Examination Exam, and these exams require students to attend the exams, which are held in schools under external supervision, and in the event the study is suspended, how will Students take the exam, noting that the department requested that plans and proposals be put in place so that it can come out with unified directions for schools.
Schools sent a questionnaire to students ’families about the best way to implement“ distance education ”.