Common risks identified to be considered when reopening schools

Sharjah Education obliges teachers to pass the precautionary measures course with 90%

The course was prepared to ensure in-depth knowledge of precautionary measures for all school personnel.

Photography: Ashok Verma

The Sharjah Special Education Authority called on school personnel in private schools in the emirate to pass the course "Procedures for reopening private schools" by no less than 90%, stressing that passing the course is compulsory for all those involved in educational educational work in the field.

Finally, the authority stated in its circular regarding the precautionary measures course, which it distributed to schools, that the course was prepared by the Sharjah Education Academy and targets the health and safety of students and school staff, and works to achieve the vision of “Together We Return” to achieve zero injuries in Sharjah schools.

The authority pointed out that the course was specially prepared to ensure in-depth knowledge of precautionary measures for all school personnel in the educational field, noting that the deadline for monitoring and following up on all school personnel passing the course is the tenth of September.

The authority indicated that the course is intensive and needs more than one day, and then it requires school staff to plan their work schedules in a way that matches the course requirements, in a way that guarantees passing it by not less than 90%.

The authority has issued a comprehensive guideline for the return of students to private schools in the emirate for the current academic year, including the policies, protocols and precautionary measures that private schools must follow in order to provide a safe and healthy educational environment, as the document focuses on describing health and safety measures recommended by the concerned authorities in the country .

The authority confirmed that it will carry out inspection campaigns in cooperation with other concerned authorities in the emirate to measure and follow up the extent of schools ’compliance with the guidelines and hold non-compliant schools accountable, and this may include fining the school or assigning the school to switch to distance learning until further notice, threatening the school teams authorized to deal with“ Covid-19 ” »Inside the schools, which will be formed in each school according to the guide, monitoring the implementation of instructions, and knowing the extent of commitment of the school community members, including students, teachers, other school personnel and parents.

She called on private schools in the emirate to review the document and use it to prepare their operational plans for the reopening, including related plans, such as plans to communicate with parents.

The authority affirmed its keenness to inform schools about the content of the guide, which aims to ensure the safety and security of students and workers in educational institutions, in order to develop and implement policies, procedures and protection measures that comply with operational guidelines related to the safety and health of students, parents, school personnel and visitors, to control and limit the spread of the Coronavirus (Covid-19).

The procedures and guidelines contained in the guide cover all aspects that guarantee the health and safety of students, including procedures for reopening schools and dealing with risks associated with the Coronavirus, entry procedures, receiving and delivering books and school uniforms, hygiene, sterilization, periodic disinfection, physical distancing, and the mechanism for dealing with suspected cases. And school transportation, food, rest place, library and prayer hall, in addition to events and activities.

The guide identified the main general risks that must be taken into account and dealt with when schools reopen, which is the transmission of infection through large gatherings in areas such as entry and exit points, and the canteen, or during evaluation sessions, and parents receiving their children, indicating the importance of dealing with the risks of school transportation carefully accordingly. On the number of students allowed to enter the school buildings at any time.

A team to ensure student safety

The comprehensive guide for students' return to private schools in Sharjah emphasized that one of the basic measures to ensure the safety of students is to form a team in each school to deal with the health pandemic, which includes in its membership employees from all departments.

The team's responsibility is to take precautionary measures to reopen schools, ensure that guidelines are applied to conduct a risk assessment and ensure that the school is ready to reopen, and to work on appointing a team of school health and safety officials to handle emergencies and monitor the implementation of health and safety measures.

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