"Education and Knowledge" sets 8 criteria for reopening private schools in Abu Dhabi

Increasing the capacity of kindergarten and first grades by 60%

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The Department of Education and Knowledge decided to increase the capacity of classrooms from kindergarten to second grade (the third year), in private schools, by 60% at the beginning of the new school year.

And set criteria for schools to reopen their doors to receive students in the new academic year.

In detail, the department confirmed that extensive research was conducted on the experiences of reopening schools around the world, in addition to surveying the opinions and analyzes of school leaders, teachers and students' families, and identifying challenges through consultation groups and questionnaires, noting that these efforts enabled it to define its goals by setting these policies and guidelines, which will ensure The process of reopening schools should be as smooth as possible, and at the same time flexible to accommodate the specificities and requirements of each school.

The department revealed an increase in the capacity of class groups for students in kindergarten and the first seminar (second grade / third year or less) who are unable to adhere to physical distancing measures, from 10 to 16 students per group, in addition to reducing the requirements for physical distancing inside The school campus is reduced to one meter inside the classrooms and throughout the school, thus allowing an increase in the capacity of the classrooms, and enabling a greater number of students to continue classroom education and interact with their colleagues and teachers, especially given the important role of this interaction in improving the quality of life of students and their intellectual, physical and social development and psychological.

The department called on all private schools in Abu Dhabi to prepare to resume their work, and to meet the criteria for reopening in accordance with the approved academic calendar for the 2021/2022 academic year, unless the relevant authorities announce otherwise.

And each school demanded the formation of a “Covid-19” work team, which should consist of the response team to “Covid-19” developments and other relevant departments within the school (student affairs, human resources, academic affairs, community communication, and others).

The department has identified eight criteria that the “Covid-19” work team in the school must ensure that they are completed before reopening, including conducting a general assessment of risks to reopen the school, conducting individual risk assessments for all students of determination, and cleaning and sterilizing buildings according to the requirements and specifications of managing spaces and activities. In addition to identifying large groups, circulating the movement and movement scheme, placing signs, installing safety equipment, storing the necessary resources and materials, making the necessary preparations on spaces in accordance with relevant policies and protocols, and ensuring that the response team to “Covid-19” developments knows the new protocols, in addition to making sure that Staff and students complete the return requirements, before they are actually allowed to enter the school.

Schools in Abu Dhabi will continue to work according to the large group model in the new academic year, in a way that reduces the risks of the spread of the “Covid-19” virus between groups.

The department drew attention to the transitional and movement areas, as schools must conduct an inspection of their buildings to draw up a map of the transitional and movement areas in the school, and that movement in these areas should be in one direction, and identify them by placing signs and posters on floors and walls.

If a one-way transition zone is not possible, then clearly marked two-way lanes should be used to reduce mixing.

She stressed the need for schools to put up easy and clear signs, identify gathering, congestion and waiting areas (stairs, elevators, classroom entrances, toilets, entrances to narrow corridors, etc.), and set limits and signs for standing and lining up, while adhering to the procedures for a distance of one meter.

General space and activity requirements

The department obligated schools to limit the maximum number of people who can be in a closed and narrow space, such as (elevators, toilets), at one time, use floor signs to maintain physical distance, and provide hand sanitizers in each designated space, i.e. (room indoors). , or outdoor play area), throughout the school.

Schools were also obligated to identify and organize break times and other gathering times to reduce mixing between classes, reduce congestion in corridors and other transitional areas, and keep doors open if possible (unless there is a risk of fire), to facilitate entry and exit movement and air flow, and to supervise the movement of student groups. Applying physical distancing measures, in addition to providing students of determination with clear and appropriate directions for their needs, to ensure their security and safety and the safety of others.

1 meter of physical distancing between students while they are at school.

“Increasing the capacity of the classrooms will allow the continuation of classroom education for a larger number of students.”

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