Covid school closures return to Abu Dhabi
After only a matter of weeks back in the classroom, with Abu Dhabi schools having returned to in-class teaching on 14th February, two highly regarded schools have moved to on-line learning after Covid 19 cases were detected. A third has moved some specific year groups to on-line learning. Some Secondary students have only just returned to school after as much as 11 months of physical absence from the classroom.
Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, one of the two schools involving full closure, has told parents that students and teachers would be switching to remote learning due to Covid-19 cases having been confirmed at the school.
Michael Wilson, Principal at Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, said in a letter to parents,
"To provide the safest learning environment possible for all our pupils, we have temporarily switched the entire school to remote learning with immediate effect. We are working closely with the authorities to manage the situation and ensure all safety and hygiene protocols are strictly adhered to at school."
The school will reopen once approval has been received from the local authorities.
Brighton College Abu Dhabi has also switched all year groups – from Foundation to Year 13 – to remote learning. Parents were informed yesterday that the school would be returning to on-line learning until further notice as a result of Covid 19 cases having been identified.
In addition, the British International School Abu Dhabi, has partially returned to on-line learning for specific year groups, after coronavirus cases were detected. Abu Dhabi health authorities have initiated contact-tracing to identify anyone at the school who may have been in close contact with one or more of the identified Covid-19 cases.
Any student, identified as having been a close contact with a confirmed case, will be required to take a Covid-19 test. He or she will then have to quarantine at home for 10 days, and to show two further negative test results, before being permitted to return to school.
Whilst many private schools in Dubai are open for in-person classes - though a significant number offer the ‘blended option’ where students may opt to continue with on-line learning - all schools and nurseries in Sharjah are teaching on-line for the rest of the spring term.
