Hundreds of school pupils aged 12 years and above, including university students, will receive Covid-19 vaccinations ahead of the new academic year.
Hundreds of school pupils aged 12 years and above, including university students, will receive Covid-19 vaccinations ahead of the new academic year.
The pop-up vaccination centre is open daily from12pm 8pm until August 7.
The pop-up vaccination centre is open daily from12pm 8pm until August 7.
Bookings are not required, but students must present their Emirates ID card and Al Hosn app.
Bookings are not required, but students must present their Emirates ID card and Al Hosn app.
Adek is collaborating with the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, Mubadala Health and Yas Mall to organise the pop-up vaccinations.
Adek is collaborating with the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, Mubadala Health and Yas Mall to organise the pop-up vaccinations.
Pupils 12 years and older who choose in-school learning for the new term are encouraged to receive a vaccination against coronavirus infection.
Pupils 12 years and older who choose in-school learning for the new term are encouraged to receive a vaccination against coronavirus infection.
Pupils in Abu Dhabi have been quick to respond to a new pop-up vaccination centre at Yas Mall.
Pupils in Abu Dhabi have been quick to respond to a new pop-up vaccination centre at Yas Mall.

UAE

Education

Abu Dhabi schools to ease Covid-19 safety measures based on vaccination rates

From term two of the academic year, schools with 85 per cent of pupils fully vaccinated will have fewest restrictions

Chris Maxwell
Anam Rizvi

October 05, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Abu Dhabi has announced plans to allow schools to relax Covid-19 safety measures based on their vaccination rates.

The Blue Schools initiative - to be introduced in the second term of the academic year - will permit schools with higher vaccination levels to gradually reduce social distancing requirements, ease mask-wearing protocols, increase classroom and school transport capacity and resume extra-curricular activities and field trips.

A colour-coded tier system will be established - based on the percentage of the school population immunised - which will determine the extent to which safety procedures can be lifted.

The specific details of how the new grading system will work were not disclosed.

The vaccination tiers

Orange for schools with less than 50 per cent of pupils vaccinated; yellow for schools with 50-64 per cent of pupils vaccinated; green for schools with 65-84 per cent of pupils vaccinated; and blue for schools with 85 per cent or more pupils vaccinated.

The scheme was approved by the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee.

“To be implemented from term 2 of the current academic year, the blue schools initiative recognises vaccination as the key path to recovery, re-emphasises transparency, and enhances the learning and social experience of pupils at school,” the committee said.

“Higher vaccinated schools will be able to gradually relax measures, including reduced social distancing requirements, relaxed mask-wearing protocols, increased classroom and school transport capacity, and a return to extra-curricular activities, and field trips.”

Children can receive the vaccine free at various centres across Abu Dhabi. These include the dedicated children’s vaccination centre at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Pfizer-BioNTech is available for children aged 12 and older, and Sinopharm is available for children aged 3 and older.

What are the vaccination rules at Abu Dhabi schools?

Pupils in the capital aged 16 and over must be vaccinated to enter their school and their status will be shown on the Al Hosn app.

Children aged 3 to 15 do not have to be vaccinated to return to school but are eligible to receive the shot.

School head welcomes move

Dr Beno Kurien, principal at International Indian School Abu Dhabi, said the scheme will help the education sector return to normality.

“This was required as we have to get back to normal,” said Dr Kurien.

“We are optimistic that all pupils will return to school for but it will take time.

“They [the authorities] are relaxing the rules step by step, from easing social distancing protocols to wearing masks.”

Pupils at Abu School are required to be seated at a distance of one metre.

At the school, which caters for pupils from kindergarten to grade nine, 70 per cent of the close to 900 pupils have returned to in-person lessons.

Although the vaccine is not mandatory for pupils aged under 16, the school head said many had opted to be immunised.

Confidence grows in education sector

Pupils arriving on the first day back of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. Nearly 13,000 pupils went back for in-person classes across three campuses. All photos: Ruel Pableo for The National
Pupils arriving on the first day back of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. Nearly 13,000 pupils went back for in-person classes across three campuses. All photos: Ruel Pableo for The National
Pupils arriving on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. Close to 95 per cent of these pupils were returning to in-person schooling for the first time in 18 months.
Pupils arriving on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. Close to 95 per cent of these pupils were returning to in-person schooling for the first time in 18 months.
Pupils arriving on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. Pupils were excited to meet their friends and teachers again.
Pupils arriving on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. Pupils were excited to meet their friends and teachers again.
Pupils go through the proper sanitation protocol on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Pupils go through the proper sanitation protocol on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Pupils queuing to enter their classrooms on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Pupils queuing to enter their classrooms on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Pupils arriving in school buses on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Pupils arriving in school buses on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Pupils queuing to enter their classrooms on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Pupils queuing to enter their classrooms on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Pupils arriving on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Pupils arriving on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Pupils arriving on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Pupils arriving on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Pupils queuing to enter their classrooms on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Pupils queuing to enter their classrooms on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Pupils queuing to enter their classrooms on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Pupils queuing to enter their classrooms on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Teacher Usha Devi on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Teacher Usha Devi on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Students on their first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Students on their first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Punit MK Vasu, chief executive of the Indian High School, on the first day of in-person learning.
Punit MK Vasu, chief executive of the Indian High School, on the first day of in-person learning.
Pupils listen to their teacher on their first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Pupils listen to their teacher on their first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Priyal Babariya was one of the pupils to attend on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Priyal Babariya was one of the pupils to attend on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai.
Sian Shinjo, a 10th grader at the school, said: 'I am a bit nervous as everything has changed a lot. I am sure it will be safe, and the school has kept us informed.'
Sian Shinjo, a 10th grader at the school, said: 'I am a bit nervous as everything has changed a lot. I am sure it will be safe, and the school has kept us informed.'
Rohi Ilyas, a mother-of-two and an entrepreneur, said her children had studied at home for 18 months.
Rohi Ilyas, a mother-of-two and an entrepreneur, said her children had studied at home for 18 months.
Utkarsh Chaube, father of a 13-year-old pupil at the Indian High School, said his son spent about 10 to 12 hours in a day in front of a screen when studying remotely.
Utkarsh Chaube, father of a 13-year-old pupil at the Indian High School, said his son spent about 10 to 12 hours in a day in front of a screen when studying remotely.
Pupils on their first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School.
Pupils on their first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School.
Sathya Lakshmi, 15, said seeing everyone back together was the most special part of returning to in-person classes.
Sathya Lakshmi, 15, said seeing everyone back together was the most special part of returning to in-person classes.
Uma Madhumohan, whose daughter Tejasvi is a 10th grader at the school, said her daughter was excited to get back to learning.
Uma Madhumohan, whose daughter Tejasvi is a 10th grader at the school, said her daughter was excited to get back to learning.
'I am on cloud nine. It’s been one-and-a-half-years since I have been on campus for in-person classes and I have missed it and my friends terribly,' said Nehan Naseem Ali, 12.
'I am on cloud nine. It’s been one-and-a-half-years since I have been on campus for in-person classes and I have missed it and my friends terribly,' said Nehan Naseem Ali, 12.
Pupils back at work inside the classroom.
Pupils back at work inside the classroom.
'Having the pupils back is unbelievable. I feel ecstatic,' said Punit MK Vasu, chief executive of the Indian High School.
'Having the pupils back is unbelievable. I feel ecstatic,' said Punit MK Vasu, chief executive of the Indian High School.
Indian High school
Indian High school

The new directives come after private schools in Dubai ended distance learning on Sunday, apart from for those pupils with exemptions.

High vaccination rates among pupils and school staff coupled with declining infection numbers have led to the return of the pre-pandemic education model. Figures released last month showed 96 per cent of Dubai's private schoolteachers had been vaccinated and 70 per cent of children aged between 12 and 17 had received coronavirus shots.

A one-metre distance between pupils was recommended by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, the emirate’s private education regulator, as term started in August.

Before then, pupils in a class had to maintain a distance of 1.5 metres.

Pupils at Abu Dhabi’s private and charter schools returned to physical education lessons, sports, and extra-curricular events in August.

Children's play areas, common areas and canteens were also reopened.

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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

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UAE currency
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WHAT IS GRAPHENE?

It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were experimenting with sticky tape and graphite, the material used as lead in pencils.

Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But when they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.

By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.

In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. 

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

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Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space

Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)

Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)

Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi 

Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution) 

Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space  

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Saturday, April 20: 11am to 7pm - Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Festival and Para jiu-jitsu.

Sunday, April 21: 11am to 6pm - Abu Dhabi World Youth (female) Jiu-Jitsu Championship.

Monday, April 22: 11am to 6pm - Abu Dhabi World Youth (male) Jiu-Jitsu Championship.

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Saturday, April 27: 4pm and 8pm awards ceremony.

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Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

New process leads to panic among jobseekers

As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.  

“My clients are mostly Filipinos, and they [all want to know] about good conduct certificates,” says the 34-year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for five years.

Ms Gado contacted the Philippines Embassy to get more information on the certificate so she can share it with her clients. She says many are worried about the process and associated costs – which could be as high as Dh500 to obtain and attest a good conduct certificate from the Philippines for jobseekers already living in the UAE. 

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UJDA CHAMAN

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Updated: October 05, 2021, 2:18 PM