Covid-19: Distance Learning till End of Year
Schools across the UAE will remain closed to students until the end of this academic year, the Ministry of Education has announced today. Lessons will continue via distance learning, which has now been in place for a little over a week.
"Under the guidance of the Council of Ministers, the implementation of the distance education system continues until the end of the current academic year 2019-2020, in all public and private schools and higher education institutions in the country" - UAEGov twitter account.
Online learning will now continue until the end of the academic year, in June 2020.
Today's announcement applies to all students of schools and all public and private universities.
The measure is one of many implemented by the UAE government has made in order to stem the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
Many parents have praised their schools for their efforts converting physical schools into virtual ones. However, parents have also told WhichSchoolAdvisor.com, in the soon to be published Online Learning Survey, that they are struggling with the workload of being being parents, career professionals, and now teachers. Many also want the issue of third-term fees addressed. Schools have invoiced parents in full.
If you want to add your view, take the survey.
School leaders across the UAE have begun to share their reactions to the news. Speaking to WhichSchoolAdvisor.com, Matthew Farthing, Principal of Nord Anglia School Dubai said:
"At NAS Dubai we are all taking a deep breath as we think about how we will continue our virtual schooling right through until July. We all appreciate the importance of the decision that the Government has made to keep us all safe and are thankful for that.
I have been amazed by the way that our teachers, students and parents have embraced virtual schooling since we began and how well it is working".
At the Al Futtaim Education Foundation (AFEF), which operates Deira International School and Universal American School, Managing Director James McDonald was confident that his staff would rise to the challenge of a full term of distance learning. Mr McDonald commented that;
"At AFEF we have always been committed to providing all our children the best education possible. We are very confident that our teachers and leaders will be able to continue to provide a high-quality distance education over this period".
Across the world, it is estimated that more than half a billion school children are now being educated at home as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Most examinations and awards have been cancelled including GCSE, A Level, IB, and CBSE and BTEC.
We will update this breaking news story as we receive more information.
