Coronavirus: Dubai pupils to wear masks during lessons and seats must be 1.5 metres apart when schools reopen

Latest: UAE travel advice - airline flights and testing for residents and tourists explained Dubai's private schools regulator has released a raft of safety measures to be enforced before classrooms welcome back pupils this September. The extensive strategy, announced by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, calls for teachers and children aged six and above to wear masks at all times, except when eating or playing, to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Children must be seated 1.5 metres apart in classrooms, in line with physical-distancing practices. Schools will be allowed to set classroom sizes as long as they are able to keep minimum distance between the seats. Pupils will not change classrooms between lessons, instead teachers will move between the school building to teach lessons. The move aims to avoid crowding in halls as hundreds of children file in and out of classrooms. There will be no buffets served in classrooms and physical education (PE) lessons must focus on sporting activities which do not require physical interaction. No swimming lessons will be held. Head teachers will decide on time pupils need to spend in school. An early plan had suggested the authorities may impose a work/home study split of 70/30. Schools closed their doors in March as part of restrictions imposed across the Emirates in the face of the pandemic. Teachers and pupils instead adopted remote learning to complete the school year. Last month, the Ministry of Education announced plans to reopen schools in time for September, as long as safety guidelines were in place.

Coronavirus: Dubai pupils to wear masks during lessons and seats must be 1.5 metres apart when schools reopen

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority has outlined safety protocols for reopening of schools