Schools continue "distance education" ... and universities resort to "hybrid" with conditions

Coronavirus outlines the features of the study in Chapter Two

The study in most colleges will be "remote".

Archives

The Ministry of Education and the Department of Education and Knowledge in Abu Dhabi confirmed that the decision to implement distance education in public and private schools in Abu Dhabi acknowledged the concern for the health of students, teachers and workers in the educational field, and that, according to health conditions and developments, the necessary measures will be taken in the interest of students.

The universities announced the continuation of the hybrid education model, and receiving students on campus, with precautionary conditions and measures.

Doctors and officials, in public and private schools, attributed the decision to the fact that winter is the season of seasonal influenza and infectious respiratory diseases, in addition to the registration of limited cases of the "mutated Corona" virus in the country, received from abroad.

In detail, the Ministry announced the resumption of studies in public schools for the second semester, starting from next Sunday, for all students and administrative, technical and teaching bodies.

In principle, it decided that the study for all students should be "remotely" in the first two weeks, stressing that the necessary measures would be taken according to the health situation and developments, in the interest of the students, and that the hours would be according to the school schedules and the time distribution prior to the first semester.

As for the continuity of the administrative and technical bodies in schools, the Ministry indicated that it will be at a rate of 50% for the administrative and technical staff alternately, according to a distribution plan drawn up by the school director, with the application of precautionary and preventive measures, during the official working hours at the school.

The Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Committee, resulting from the Corona pandemic in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, in cooperation with the Department of Education and Knowledge, approved the “remote” study system in all schools of the emirate for the first two weeks of the second semester, in the interest of the health of students, teachers and workers.

The committee stated that all students, teachers, and school workers coming from outside the country, through any of its airports or entrances, must adhere to quarantine requirements, in accordance with the announced and approved procedures in the emirate.

While the United Arab Emirates University announced the completion of preparations for the start of the second semester of the hybrid education system, where 12,301 students from all academic disciplines will be enrolled to study there, including 1,345 students in postgraduate programs.

A plan was also drawn up to return to the university campus on January 16, including 5,000 students from scientific colleges, in accordance with comprehensive precautionary plans, in order to ensure the safety of students, and to ensure the continuity of their academic achievement.

Zayed University stated that January 10 will be the first day of study for the second semester, and most colleges will study remotely, except for colleges that need to attend, such as: the College of Technical Innovation, the College of Arts, and the College of Natural and Health Sciences, noting that “these colleges are possible. Also, that its schedule contains (online) classes. ”

The Higher Colleges of Technology also confirmed the continuation of the hybrid education model, allowing students to attend colleges, at a rate not exceeding 30%, for one subject, due to the nature of applied education that characterizes the colleges, as students' attendance will continue to be limited to laboratories, workshops, seminars, and presentations. Presentation, as well as applied and research activities related to entrepreneurship, within economic free zones.

There will also be a possibility to hold some exams and examinations in colleges, according to the controls and procedures related to the health and safety of students at the level of higher education institutions in the face of "Covid-19".

The faculties explained that student attendance is an important factor for the nature of applied and professional education that they adopt. Therefore, a work mechanism has been set up to ensure that the applied requirements of each course are met, provided that attendance in the course does not exceed 30% at the level of laboratories, workshops, presentations and discussions, and the lectures for the course will all be Online », pointing out that the principle of“ hybrid education ”depends on the combination of education on campus and distance learning, in the best way to ensure that the student gets the best educational service, commensurate with the requirements of his studies, especially the applied ones.

Private universities confirmed the continuation of adopting, during the second semester, a hybrid educational system that combines classroom education and distance education, using approved communication techniques, in line with precautionary measures and educational protocols issued by the competent authorities, noting that «this system was designed To meet the students ’academic needs, according to the nature of the course and its requirements, with the students being able to engage in virtual lectures and realistic ones in university laboratories that apply the highest preventive measures, in order to preserve the health and safety of everyone».

The universities indicated that the hybrid education model will witness the completion of some university activities virtually, including: short exams, oral tests, and postgraduate discussions, while some other activities will take place on the university campus with a capacity ranging between 25 and 40% for students and administrative and teaching staff.

This includes research, laboratory, studio, and final testing activities.

Officials in public and private schools and universities stressed that the decision to implement distance education aims to achieve the highest standards of security and safety for the components of the educational process, noting that the proactive approach of the state and the forward-looking vision of the leadership contributed to providing an advanced technical infrastructure that enabled educational institutions to The application of various educational options, and the introduction of flexible educational systems, which contribute to expanding the range of experiences of the learner, in light of these exceptional circumstances.

And they continued that the decision is in the interest of the student and society, especially with the spread of seasonal influenza, during this period every year, and the re-emergence of the Corona virus in the world, and the difficulty of distinguishing between its symptoms and the symptoms of “Covid-19”, in addition to the emergence of the new surge of the emerging corona virus. In Britain, and the Emirati health authorities monitored limited cases in the country received from abroad, in addition to the travel of many families and people abroad, during the last period, and their return to the country, which exposes students to being more in contact.

They emphasized that there is no risk in continuing hybrid education in universities, given the old age of university students, and their ability to maintain precautionary measures and physical distancing, in addition to the precautionary measures applied by universities, including reducing the density on campus to about 30% of the total number, and the commitment of students to show A negative result of the “BCR” examination before entering the university campus, providing quarantine places in cases of necessity with special standards and specifications, and providing health care and all services that the student needs.

Student reception mechanisms

Aisha Salem Al Dhaheri, the associate deputy for student affairs at the United Arab Emirates University, confirmed that the university has developed an integrated plan to receive students, either hypothetically or on campus, according to mechanisms that achieve academic goals and ensure the continuation of the educational process with the best standards, pointing to the preparation of university facilities from housing And laboratories, in addition to sterilizing transportation means for students, and conducting tests to detect "Covid-19" disease for bus drivers.

The plan includes: international students, postgraduate students, medical students residing in university housing, and students of scientific colleges.

It also confirmed the formation of a rapid response team, consisting of representatives from the Department of Health and Safety, Health Services and Student Affairs.

The Dean of Student Life, Dr. Naima Al-Darmaki, stated that the university has made the necessary arrangements to receive students, according to a hypothetical program that has been prepared to help students transition to university life.

She emphasized that the university administration adopted, during the program, three basic criteria: participation, empowerment and exploration, by answering students' inquiries and providing for their academic needs.

She said, "Within the framework of empowerment, we seek to make the student feel that he is a member of the university family. As for exploration, we would like the student not to rely on information in the proposed program only, but to adopt exploration himself, as a shared responsibility."

• “Education”: “New developments define the form of study in the second semester ... and measures are taken in the interest of students.”

• 30% is the maximum number of students on campus.

Follow our latest local and sports news, and the latest political and economic developments via Google news