Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi private school teachers and pupils to undergo 'periodic' PCR tests

Teachers, staff and pupils at private schools in Abu Dhabi must undergo mandatory periodic PCR tests as part of Covid-19 safety measures to return to classrooms, education officials said.

Private and charter schools in the capital reopened their classrooms on Sunday after months of distance learning, although many are on half-term break this week and will return next Sunday instead.

Returning to classrooms is still optional and parents can choose to continue with distance learning.

On Monday, Abu Dhabi's Department of Education and Knowledge, the private school regulator, updated its safety measures.

It said pupils aged 12 and above returning to classrooms would have to "periodically" undergo a PCR test. Pupils with disabilities are excluded from mandatory tests.

All teachers and other staff will be tested for Covid-19 every two weeks.

Tests will be free for pupils who undergo the PCR as scheduled by their school.

Those who choose to be tested on a different day or another location than that specified by their school must pay for their own PCR.

Pupils, teachers and staff returning from international travel must adhere to the quarantine rules outlined by local health authorities, the department said.

Other safety measures include keeping 1.5 metres of distance and mandatory use of masks for pupils in Grade 1 or Year 2 and above.

School inspections will be increased to ensure compliance, with at least 220 inspections to take place in the first week back.

Pupils, teachers and staff with chronic health conditions will be allowed to return to classrooms for the first time since March, provided they submit a medical fitness certificate signed by a doctor.

They must also sign a risk undertaking form that acknowledges the health challenges related to attending school during the pandemic.

Schools were deep-cleaned and social-distancing measures were put in place before pupils returned on Sunday.

Pupils were due to go back to school in the first week of January, but that was delayed twice because of concerns about rising infection rates.

For pupils in Years 7 to 9, it was their first day in school since March.

Children told The National  that they were excited to be in their classrooms again.

"I spoke with my friends and it was so much fun to see them after such a long time," said Rohit Shibu, 10, a pupil at Gems United Indian School.

"I prefer being in school to online learning because it's really important for me to talk with teachers and understand things clearly."