Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Some children have begun returning to schools in Gaza after authorities declared a start to the academic year, in a push for a sense of normality with the enclave in ruins following 15 months of war.
The Ministry of Education said pupils would be offered programmes to catch up on lost learning as well as psychological support to address the devastating effects of the conflict. They would not attend every day, it added.
It is unclear how many schools are reopening, but pupils at two told The National they took classes on Sunday. Others across the strip continue to learn online as many have done throughout the war, with the majority of Gaza's schools destroyed, damaged or turned into shelters.
“Students will begin returning to their schools, following a comprehensive plan developed by the ministry for this purpose,” Dr Khaled Abu Nada, undersecretary for the Ministry of Education, told The National. “The emergency plan considers the difficult circumstances of the students and their challenging lives during the war, including the loss of all educational necessities such as books, bags and stationery.”
Some school buildings have been made available by clearing displaced people who were sheltering inside them. Others are temporary establishments set up through grassroots initiatives during the war.
Much of Gaza has been flattened in the fighting between Israel and Hamas, which was paused last month under a ceasefire deal struck with mediation from the US, Egypt and Qatar. The UN said in a report last week that it would take $53 billion and 10 years to rebuild the territory, including clearing unexploded ordnance and millions of tonnes of rubble.
“The maintenance of classrooms depends on available resources. We are operating at a minimum capacity, with our primary focus on ensuring the educational process resumes smoothly,” Dr Abu Nada said. “Students will not attend daily, and there will be multiple shifts within a single day to accommodate as many students as possible.”
Mohammad Anseyo, a 13 year old from Gaza city, told The National he attended his first day at Al Nasr School. “When the war started, I was in the sixth grade, and now I am in the eighth grade. I completed the seventh grade online over the past few months and, thankfully, managed to pass,” he said.
“The school I went to, which is close to my home, is damaged but less than others. There are shells that hit the buildings, and there's some destruction, but honestly, it’s still much better than other schools,” he added. “There isn’t enough school furniture. Some students sit on chairs and tables, but many sit on the floor.”
Despite the challenging conditions, he is hopeful. “The first day was more about chatting, psychological support, and explaining the plan. I hope in the coming days everything will get better and educational life will return to how it was – or even better,” he said.
Rahma Mousa, a 45-year-old mother of six from Gaza city's Al Rimal area, expressed relief. “We’ve been waiting for this moment eagerly because we want our kids to go back to education, instead of the street life and homelessness they've endured throughout the war months.”
She said she planned to send her children to the nearest functioning school. “To be honest, the details are still unclear, but whatever the situation is, we're just grateful for education to resume in any way possible,” she said.
However, for many families who have been displaced by the fighting, the resumption of education also means giving up their temporary shelter in school buildings. Among them is Mahdi Obeid, 38, a father of five who had been staying at a school in Al Nuseirat in central Gaza after being forced from his home in the city of Jabalia.
“We have nowhere to return to because our home in Jabalia was destroyed,” he told The National. “But despite all this, we decided to leave the school because the educational process, which will benefit thousands of students, is more important.”
Mr Obeid is now living in a tent on open land west of Al Nuseirat, but is nevertheless optimistic. “Over the past year and a half, the children have been deprived of their right to education, and they truly need to make up for everything they've missed," he said. “My two sons, Mohammad and Suhail ... I really hope they can continue their educational journey and achieve the future I've always imagined for them – and even better.”
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Teaching in coronavirus times
Look north
BBC business reporters, like a new raft of government officials, are being removed from the national and international hub of London and surely the quality of their work must suffer.
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.
"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
DIVINE%20INTERVENTOIN
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NYBL PROFILE
Company name: Nybl
Date started: November 2018
Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence
Initial investment: $500,000
Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)
Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Cabriolet
Price, base: Dh429,090
Engine 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission Seven-speed automatic
Power 510hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 700Nm @ 1,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.2L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
Top%2010%20most%20competitive%20economies
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The%20Specs%20
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MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2
Vinicius Junior (71') Mariano (90 2')
Barcelona 0
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
