"Knowledge" has assigned field teams to ensure that schools adhere to preventive measures
Abdullah Al-Karam: There is no change to school fees
Student relations will witness changes related to preventive measures. ■ archive
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The Chairman of the Board of Directors, Director General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai, Dr. Abdullah Al-Karam, confirmed that school fees will remain unchanged for the new academic year.
He also stressed the readiness of schools, and their commitment to applying the highest levels of precautionary and preventive measures that ensure the health and safety of students and the administrative and educational staff.
He said that the authority has allocated field teams to ensure that schools adhere to preventive measures, to ensure that the new Corona virus (Covid-19) does not spread.
Al-Karm, yesterday, was a guest of the #AskDXBOfficial initiative recently launched by the Dubai Government Media Office, with the aim of strengthening communication channels between Dubai government departments, institutions and bodies on the one hand, and society on the other hand.
Al-Karam answered many questions related to the readiness of private schools in Dubai and the extent of their readiness to receive students in the new academic year, as well as the measures taken by the authority to ensure that schools implement approved health and preventive protocols, and inquiries related to tuition fees, hybrid education, distance education, and other questions. Related to the safety of students and educational personnel and providing a healthy and safe environment for all.
The initiative aims to keep community members informed about the latest developments and efforts made by government agencies in various fields by hosting an official in the Dubai government to answer questions and inquiries from the public, whether related to the measures taken by the government or the services provided by its various branches, in a manner that guarantees Continuous communication and optimal delivery of the correct message through effective and reliable channels.
In detail, the Director General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai, Dr. Abdullah Al-Karam, began the meeting by reassuring parents who may have a state of uneasiness about their children returning to school under the current circumstances, and called on them to communicate with their children's school administrations to closely know the extent of their readiness, and how Implementing health and safety measures, indicating that this will contribute to dispelling their fears and gradually overcoming the state of anxiety.
In a question about the safety measures that schools will apply to maintain the safety of students, Al-Karm stressed that the protocol approved by the Supreme Committee for Crisis and Disaster Management in Dubai in this regard is available to all private schools, indicating that the protocol covers all procedures, and includes more than 100 points covering all areas of concern. Health and safety procedures, including, for example: maintaining physical distancing, and checking temperature for students, faculty members, and administrative staff.
He explained that he conducted field visits to several private schools during the current week to ensure the schools' readiness to receive their students and their implementation of the approved protocol on the ground.
He added that there are joint field visits with a number of government agencies that will be carried out with the beginning of the school year, pointing out that all schools have a full awareness and understanding of the protocol, which will focus in the first phase on intensively preserving the safety of students, while it will be updated continuously with the latest developments of the situation in the first place. .
Regarding the controls that the authority applies at the start of the school year, he said that the authority discussed school readiness plans in various ways and means before approval, as each private school separately developed its readiness plan in prior consultation with parents, and it was reviewed and approved by the competent team in the authority. After making sure that schools consulted with parents about available solutions to reopen their doors for the new academic year, in addition to clarifying procedures precisely, to ensure that schools properly implement health and safety rules, indicating that Dubai schools developed their own readiness plan in preparation for the new academic year, including In this, safety measures are based on the preventive instructions and precautionary measures approved by the Dubai government.
On the necessity of the Coronavirus examination, and the need for school staff to present negative Covid-19 test certificates prior to the start of the study, he explained that conducting a PCR examination is mandatory for all school personnel, as they must all perform a Covid-19 examination before the start of the school year, and submit a certificate proving their absence From the virus to ensure the safety of the educational environment and to protect our students, male and female students, and all school personnel.
He said that private schools will be reopened for classroom learning, and it is indispensable for schools to open and students return to their seats, given the scientific and psychological importance of this for the student.
He added that the authority understands the diversity of parents' opinions, especially in the early stages of reopening schools, and from this point of view, schools will be able to provide remote education services during the new academic year, at the request of parents who wish to do so.
He explained that the authority allowed parents to document their choices through the school and guardian contract program service, which is the legal mechanism followed by the authority to determine the responsibilities and rights of the two parties, as parents can review the terms of the contract and choose the most appropriate form for their children to return to the school building, and then sign the The contract after carefully reading and understanding it before the start of the new school year.
With regard to reducing school fees in the event that a student continues to learn remotely, he stressed that school fees will remain unchanged for the new academic year, and the matter depends on the educational services provided by the school, however each school will have its own approach in dealing with this issue, affirming his confidence On the ability of the two parties (the school and parents) to reach satisfactory solutions, calling on parents to communicate with their children's schools to find out more details.
In response to a question about the possibility of continuing learning from outside the country if the student is registered in a Dubai school and chooses the distance learning model, Al-Karm stressed that the option is available, given the presence of students with their parents outside the country, wishing all students who were prevented by circumstances from returning to Their safety schools return and continue their academic journey.
On the first day of the new school year, and the guidelines that schools will have to follow to ensure health and safety to protect everyone, he explained that the first day of study will be different because it comes after a break of six months, which is a very long period for students.
He pointed out that the exceptional circumstances showed the importance of schools in our lives and in our city, stressing that schools do not only undertake the task of educating children, because they are the place that brings us together, connects us as individuals and as a community, and gives us a sense of belonging.
He pointed out that schools are not only a place to study, but also a suitable social environment to form friendships and meet new friends, adding that “many students would like to return to school to meet their classmates who have missed them for a long time, but this will be within specific measures of applying the precautionary measures and the rules of distancing. Physical for their safety ».
Al-Karam emphasized the shared responsibility of the school, parents and the concerned authorities, "everyone is responsible for the schools returning to normal." He pointed out the importance of parents preparing and educating their children before returning to school, to ensure a safe environment for students.
He stressed that the authority will provide various platforms for direct communication with the public in a number of shopping centers in the emirate during the first weeks of the start of the new academic year, to provide information to them.
He added, "The first days and weeks of the new school year will be a new experience for us, and our children will depend on us, parents, teachers and school cadres, to continue their educational journey in safety and happiness. Therefore, our solidarity to provide assistance and support to our students, students, will contribute to their safe return to their schools." .
Al-Karam said that the authority’s schools will offer a “hybrid” learning method during the new school year, and that distance learning will be present in one way or another, pointing out that government and private institutions have become adopting flexible work systems, which gives a space for the guardian to follow up on his children’s studies.
preventive measures
Dr. Abdullah Al-Karam said that everyone will adhere to the preventive measures announced by the authority, which include: the use of masks, physical distancing, temperature checks for students and educational and administrative staff, limited gatherings, and school activities, which means that the school will be relatively different from what it was before. Of course, each school will have its own way of implementing the health and safety protocols announced by the Knowledge Authority.
And he stressed the compulsory wearing of the muzzle for anyone in the school building, including students over the age of six, and parents.
Opening higher education institutions
Dr. Abdullah Al-Karam stressed the compulsory wearing of the muzzle with the reopening of higher education institutions next September, with the commitment of all universities to follow the approved health protocols, procedures and requirements, indicating that the Commission’s team is currently evaluating plans for readiness to reopen branches of international universities in Dubai.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Karam:
- "The reopening of higher education institutions with the commitment of universities to the approved health procedures."
- «PCR examination is mandatory for educational and administrative staff before the start of the new academic year.