I informed the students’ parents of canceling full-time and moving to “part-time”

Private schools change the “attendance form” after 14 days of study

Social distancing requirements have reduced classroom capacity by 40%.

Photography: Eric Arrasas

Private schools in Abu Dhabi informed students’ parents of changing the educational model for studying in school classes (full-time), and replacing it with part-time, after two weeks of the start of the study, and justified this step by receiving more requests from parents by their desire to enroll their children in school studies, while confirming The Department of Education and Knowledge stated that schools are obliged to analyze their spaces to determine the maximum capacity to accommodate students who choose the return system for classroom education in the classrooms to maintain a distance of one meter of social distance between students.

In detail, private schools announced the updating of the special education model for the first semester, due to the desire of many students to return to learning inside the school, compared to last year, as schools received requests from about 90% of students' families that they wanted their children to have a face-to-face learning space. , unlike last year, only about 40% returned, noting that in light of the increasing number of requests, it was forced to change the educational model to ensure that a greater number of students receive formal education, and to meet the requirements and conditions of the Department of Education and Knowledge to reopen schools, regarding the necessity of adhering to a distance of distance. It is one meter between each student in the classroom.

The schools indicated that adhering to the distancing distance makes the classroom unable to accommodate more than 60% of the number of students, and with the desire of nearly 90% of students to attend and learn directly, the full-time model and daily attendance at school is not possible, and the transition will be made to the working model. Partial so that 50% of students receive their education at school, and 50% of their education is taught remotely from home, and attendance is exchanged between them weekly.

The schools allowed families of students who do not have the part-time option to move to the full distance education model, noting that according to the policy of the Department of Education and Knowledge, changing the educational model provided by the school will not affect the value of tuition fees, as the full tuition fees will be applied to all students. Regardless of which option is chosen.

While students’ families expressed their harm from changing the school model they chose for their children and canceling the full-time model, noting that the school confused their daily map, especially after the return of full-time work in the workplace, and that there was no one who could stay with young children at home while they were receiving their lessons remotely. .

The parents of students: Ahmed Samir, Ayman Fawaz, Reem Khaled, and Shaima Abdullah confirmed that they decided to keep their children in their schools and not transfer them to other schools because of the provision of a full-time model, in addition to that the schools sent a questionnaire before the start of the school year asking each parent to: He chooses the school model for his children, and she confirmed that changing between educational models after the selection process is not possible, as educational plans will be developed and classrooms arranged based on these choices, and it is not understandable to change the educational system two weeks after the start of the school year.

They pointed out that the schools took into account the desire of the students’ families who submitted requests to amend the study model for their children, and at the same time ignored the survey of the students’ families whose children’s educational model will be changed and the number of school days reduced, and whether this suits them or not, and what are the obstacles that they face. It is possible to confront them, and only inform them of the decision and the date of implementation.

While Omar Ahmed’s guardian referred to the transfer of his children this year to their current school, due to its provision of a full-time system, although its tuition fees are higher than his children’s previous school and its educational evaluation is lower, but his working conditions and his wife forced them to search for a school that provides the full education system, pointing out He indicated that he demanded the school to abide by what was agreed upon before the start of the school year, but it refused and demanded him to transfer his children in the event that the new system is not suitable for them, but they will not be able to recover the fees for the first semester, which constitutes a great financial loss that he cannot bear, and to re-pay the fees Back in the alternative school.

While an official in a private school that decided to change the educational system, and asked not to be named, confirmed that the school put the students’ interests in the first place, especially in light of the increasing number of families wishing to involve their children in the school’s study model, in addition to changing some of the regulations for education within the school. Following the issuance of the protocol for operating educational facilities during the emerging corona virus pandemic, and the approval of a free “PCR” examination for students;

Increased school time requests received by the school.

She said: “No matter what model the school will follow, it will cause different challenges for families, but we believe that this is the best way to provide equal education to learning within the school to the largest possible number of students, and the parents of students who oppose the decision claim to understand the value of direct education for students. , especially young children, and to put their humanity before their own interests, and to accept shared responsibility, especially as we are still going through emergency conditions caused by a global pandemic.”

For its part, the Department of Education and Knowledge clarified that, given the new physical spacing requirement (1 meter), schools must analyze their spaces to determine the maximum capacity to accommodate students who choose the return system for classroom education in the classroom at any time, noting that they must also Schools that can accommodate all students with a capacity of 100% apply the full-time model, while only schools that cannot accommodate 100% of their students using the classroom attendance system are allowed to apply the part-time model to all students or to the affected classes, or seminars.

She indicated that if the classroom or school is temporarily closed due to the registration of cases of "Covid 19", the school will move to the distance education application until the return is safe, pointing out that schools reserve the right to impose full tuition fees regardless of the form. Classroom or distance education.

plastic barrier

Students in private schools called for schools that refuse to implement the full-time model to be obligated to make transparent plastic barriers between students, as in many schools in the emirate, in order to increase the number of students in classrooms, where in this case it is possible to divide the class into four classes and make a transparent barrier in In the middle, to reduce the spread of the Corona virus infection.

They pointed out that the schools that implemented these barriers were able to receive all students on a full-time basis, and they also raised the measures to protect students inside the classrooms, as the transparent plastic barriers are safer and safer than the distance of a meter of spacing, and they also divide the same class into groups through which it is easy to Inventory of contacts in the event of an injury to one of the students.

90% of families want their children to go to school.

Education and Knowledge: “Schools that cannot accommodate 100% of their students with class attendance are allowed to apply part-time.”

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