Saudi Arabia will resume in-person learning for school pupils at intermediate and secondary levels for the new academic year starting on August 29.
Students at universities and technical training institutes will also revert to face-to-face classes.
Only pupils and students who have received both doses of Covid-19 vaccine will be allowed to attend, Education Minister Hamad Al Sheikh said on Thursday, while mapping a return to classrooms for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic broke out early last year.
Mr Al Sheikh said 93 per cent of students in general education had received at least one dose of vaccine, while 37 per cent had received two.
“Among university students, those who received one dose amounted to 85 per cent and those who received two doses accounted for 59 per cent,” he said.
Students who have not been fully inoculated will continue learning online through lessons uploaded daily by teachers to the Madrasati platform, Mr Al Sheikh said.
Primary and kindergarten students will start their academic year with remote learning until October 30.
The schedule for return to in-person learning will apply to state and private institutions, the minister said.
In-person teaching will be suspended for 10 days in any classroom where a Covid case is detected. Lessons would continue remotely.
If cases are detected in more than one classroom, the entire school would switch to remote learning.
Mr El Sheikh outlined wide-ranging reforms to the Saudi education system that take effect in the coming academic year, including new curriculums and a switch from two to three terms.
He said the kingdom had spent more than 1 billion riyals ($267 million) on additional classrooms and resources, plus safeguards against the spread of coronavirus.
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The specs: 2019 Infiniti QX50
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Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged, in-line four-cylinder
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Power: 268hp @ 5,600rpm
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Fuel economy: 6.7L / 100km (estimate)
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Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
THE BIO
Mr Al Qassimi is 37 and lives in Dubai
He is a keen drummer and loves gardening
His favourite way to unwind is spending time with his two children and cooking
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder
Transmission: CVT auto
Power: 181bhp
Torque: 244Nm
Price: Dh122,900
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
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- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
If you go...
Etihad flies daily from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, with fares starting from Dh2,807 return. Frequent high speed trains between Zurich and Vienna make stops at St. Anton.
