Academic institutes in the UAE have introduced online summer camps to help pupils make up for lost school learning because of Covid-19.
Education experts said many parents raised concerns of their children falling behind in core subjects as they struggled with e-learning after schools closed in March.
Tutoring centres in Dubai reported a surge in interest for one-to-one classes for maths, science and English, especially for younger children.
Over the past few weeks, families across the country have signed up for in-house and online summer courses focused on curriculum-based "catch-up sessions".
With the move to online, there has been something of a shift to keep up with schooling over the past term
"Summer was always a great time to catch up with any work that had been missed in the previous academic year," Alex Rudgalvis, centre director for Tutoring Club in Mudon, told The National.
“However, for many children, Covid-19 has highlighted areas they were really struggling with.
“Our summer schools are now online as well as in our centres and there has been more recognition that tuition can help bridge the gap which has widened recently.”
He said demand from parents changed during the pandemic.
Before the coronavirus outbreak, the centre helped to build foundation skills and address areas of weakness.
Now, more parents have requested tutors to focus on a specific curriculum.
“With the move to online, there has been something of a shift to keep up with schooling over the past term,” he said.
“We see an intention to use summer holidays to address these gaps, as well as recover any material that has caused concern over the last term.
“They want more teaching to the curriculum because of the lack of time in schools with teachers."
Tutoring Club has four centres in Dubai.
Summer camp packages start from Dh720 a week for five one-hour sessions, up to Dh4,400 for 40 hours over eight weeks.
So far, the centre has dealt with lots of inquiries but “slightly fewer new enrolments” due to financial concerns and “fatigue with online learning".
By mid-July, Mr Rudgalvis said he hoped to have between “40 to 50 new sign ups”.
The majority of interest has come from parents of pupils under 12 or those approaching IB and A-level exams.
At the Tutoring Centre in Dubai, its in-house summer sessions have been revised to adhere to health and safety precautions.
To align with requirements set by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Dubai’s private school regulator, individual folders with new textbooks will be passed to all pupils to ensure no papers are exchanged.
“Our demand for reading comprehension, writing and maths stayed consistent throughout lockdown,” said Joanna Lynch, centre director.
“What was surprising was the amount of early-years support requests we had during the home learning phase.
“I think during home learning, older children were able to be somewhat independent with their approach but younger kids needed constant support and guidance.”
Ms Lynch said it also began a new programme a few months ago designed to keep pupils ahead in maths.
For the summer, session scheduling has also increased.
“Usually, pupils come to the centre two or three times a week,” she said.
“This summer we have added an option of up to five classes a week to help give structure and increased motivation and confidence before the full return to school.
“We’ve reduced our capacity throughout summer in an effort to keep everyone safe.”
Packages for one-to-one instruction start at Dh1,500 for 10 one-hour sessions, up to Dh5,300 for 40 sessions.
Ivy Camps USA, which usually runs summer activities out of a Dubai school, recently introduced its first virtual summer camp to the UAE.
“We believe they are needed now more than ever,” said Nourjannah Hendi, director of Middle East operations.
“More parents and organisations are asking about camp now than before due to several factors.
“More families are staying in the UAE this summer because of Covid-19 and the fears surrounding travel and getting stuck abroad.
“There also seems to be a general sentiment that kids have lost much of the value of learning because of the recent switch to the online platforms, and that parents are afraid that this loss will continue.”
The camps, which include lessons on strategy and chance, the science of motion and machines and game theory, will run until August 13.
Parents can choose from three-week packages or mix-and-match one-week camps.
Prices start from Dh2,200 for the three-week package, or Dh860 for the one-week course.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Generational responses to the pandemic
Devesh Mamtani from Century Financial believes the cash-hoarding tendency of each generation is influenced by what stage of the employment cycle they are in. He offers the following insights:
Baby boomers (those born before 1964): Owing to market uncertainty and the need to survive amid competition, many in this generation are looking for options to hoard more cash and increase their overall savings/investments towards risk-free assets.
Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980): Gen X is currently in its prime working years. With their personal and family finances taking a hit, Generation X is looking at multiple options, including taking out short-term loan facilities with competitive interest rates instead of dipping into their savings account.
Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996): This market situation is giving them a valuable lesson about investing early. Many millennials who had previously not saved or invested are looking to start doing so now.
Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania
Verdict: 4 Stars
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The specs: 2018 Dodge Durango SRT
Price, base / as tested: Dh259,000
Engine: 6.4-litre V8
Power: 475hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 640Nm @ 4,300rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
RESULTS
Bantamweight
Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
(Split decision)
Featherweight
Hussein Salim (IRQ) beat Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
(Round 1 submission, armbar)
Catchweight 80kg
Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Otabek Kadirov (UZB)
(Round-1 submission, rear naked choke)
Lightweight
Ho Taek-oh (KOR) beat Ronald Girones (CUB)
(Round 3 submission, triangle choke)
Lightweight
Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) beat Damien Lapilus (FRA)
(Unanimous points)
Bantamweight
Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
(Round 1 TKO)
Featherweight
Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
(Round 1 rear naked choke)
Flyweight
Shannon Ross (TUR) beat Donovon Freelow (USA)
(Unanimous decision)
Lightweight
Dan Collins (GBR) beat Mohammad Yahya (UAE)
(Round 2 submission D’arce choke)
Catchweight 73kg
Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM) beat Islam Mamedov (RUS)
(Round 3 submission, kneebar)
Bantamweight world title
Xavier Alaoui (MAR) beat Jaures Dea (CAM)
(Unanimous points 48-46, 49-45, 49-45)
Flyweight world title
Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
(Round 1 RSC)
Emirates Cricket Board Women’s T10
ECB Hawks v ECB Falcons
Monday, April 6, 7.30pm, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
The match will be broadcast live on the My Sports Eye Facebook page
Hawks
Coach: Chaitrali Kalgutkar
Squad: Chaya Mughal (captain), Archara Supriya, Chamani Senevirathne, Chathurika Anand, Geethika Jyothis, Indhuja Nandakumar, Kashish Loungani, Khushi Sharma, Khushi Tanwar, Rinitha Rajith, Siddhi Pagarani, Siya Gokhale, Subha Srinivasan, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish
Falcons
Coach: Najeeb Amar
Squad: Kavisha Kumari (captain), Almaseera Jahangir, Annika Shivpuri, Archisha Mukherjee, Judit Cleetus, Ishani Senavirathne, Lavanya Keny, Mahika Gaur, Malavika Unnithan, Rishitha Rajith, Rithika Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Shashini Kaluarachchi, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Vaishnave Mahesh
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
2021 World Triathlon Championship Series
May 15: Yokohama, Japan
June 5: Leeds, UK
June 24: Montreal, Canada
July 10: Hamburg, Germany
Aug 17-22: Edmonton, Canada (World Triathlon Championship Final)
Nov 5-6 : Abu Dhabi, UAE
Date TBC: Chengdu, China
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Price: From Dh299,000 ($81,415)
On sale: Now
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
