Related: Coronavirus: UAE's most expensive schools forecast to take hit as parents look to save cash
UAE schools will look vastly different when they bring pupils back to the campus, education experts have said.
Children will walk into school premises wearing face masks. They will get their temperature checked before the morning attendance, play contact-free sports, and will sit metres away from their peers.
Schools in the UAE are scheduled to open on August 30, but there is no confirmation yet on whether remote learning will continue into the next academic year.
Schools may follow a hybrid model, a mix of online and on-campus classes, as educators and policymakers try to determine what classrooms should look like during the pandemic.
The National spoke with experts to help parents understand and assess what they can expect when their children return to school.
Frequent hand-washing but no friendly hugs or sharing food
Strict precautionary measures will need to be in place if schools bring pupils back to the campus.
“Children won’t be able to sit with 30 of their classmates and will not be sharing food in the canteen," said Maya El Hachem, managing director and partner at Boston Consulting Group, a global management consulting firm. "They will be interacting differently, playing differently, and will be asked to wash their hands very frequently.”
Tony Elzoghbi, board executive at Kent College in Dubai, said schools across the country are waiting for the official direction to plan activities for the next academic year.
“If pupils want to play contact sports, that may not be possible," he said.
"We have to see what the authorities will allow. We will follow their policies.
“There is no clarity yet but we do expect to soon hear from the authorities.”
If pupils are required to stay a few metres apart, schools may encourage children to engage in performing arts or act in plays.
Schools may opt for sports in which people can stay away from each other such as badminton, tennis and athletics instead of football and cricket.
Educators will also have to revise their schedules, and while parent-teacher meetings may be held virtually, it may be a while before children can engage in after-school activities.
Health and safety precautions will be increased with schools investing in fumigation, germicidal lamps, and thermal scanners.
“When schools reopen, we will have a very strong emphasis on preventive measures and social distancing,” said Dr Leila Hoteit, managing director and head of education at BCG.
“If you want people to go back to work and they are caregivers, then you will have to send children back to school.
“Everything in the school that goes beyond the classroom and teaching will have to be transformed digitally.”
Wellbeing of pupils will be a priority
The emotional wellbeing and mental health of pupils will be extremely important when schools reopen as pupils have been studying at home for months with no social interaction.
Pupils’ emotional and social needs will be brought to the fore and personalised education will take a stronger role in the future of education.
“Having the children at home and asking them to wear masks is disturbing for them. They are used to playing together and sharing," said Mr Elzoghbi.
“They will see their best friends but unfortunately will not even be able to hug them. This will have a big impact on them when they return.”
The whole pupil journey will have to be re-imagined by the authorities, said BCG’s El Hachem.
“They will also have to think about the wellbeing of pupils who have been confined for many months and have not interacted with their peers.
“Children love to sit down next to each other. With social distancing being part of the new norm, this will be difficult for them.”
Ms El Hachem, who advises schools as well as governments in the Middle East on education, said schools will have to plan financially to understand how many pupils may be able to attend a class at any given time and how many teachers would be needed.
In case of an outbreak
Schools will need to train staff with a focus on the roles of nurses and counsellors while also preparing for scenarios in case of an infection or a potential outbreak.
In South Korea, more than 200 schools were forced to close again last month, days after they had opened, due to an increase in the number of coronavirus cases.
Sir Christopher Stone, global chief education officer at Gems Education, said fallback procedures would be in place at schools in case there is a surge in cases.
“We believe that it would be safe to go back to school. However, if that changes, just like it did in South Korea, then we would not want our children to be placed in that position and we would follow guidelines," he said.
Schools would then consider other approaches such as blended learning, or pupils attending school in batches or at different times.
Dr Hoteit said parents would be monitoring whether schools will be opening in their home countries to make decisions on whether they should return home.
“Every country in the world is going through this dance where they open [the economy] and look at how virus is, then decide if they want to open up," she said.
“The government will be looking to benchmark what other countries are doing across the globe, especially if most of the countries have opened schools."
Last month, four out of five teachers around the globe said it is not yet safe to return to the school, according to a poll of more than 4,000 teachers from 33 countries carried out by T4 conference, one of the world's largest education conferences.
According to Oliver Wyman, a management consulting firm, which has published the report Re-opening Schools Post Covid-19, institutes in the Middle East will need to have a strategically phased approach to opening up including a pre-opening, opening and post-opening framework.
During these phases, schools would need to implement increased temperature checks at entry, enhanced sterilisation and cleaning processes, along with limiting the interaction between pupils.
“With the region facing growing macroeconomic uncertainty, a staged approach to reopening schools after Covid-19 will allow policymakers and academic institutions to address the long-term implications of prolonged school and university closures,” said Jeff Youssef, partner at Oliver Wyman.
“Schools remain critical as they are linked to parents rejoining the workforce and contributing to [or even remaining in] the economy."
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Breast cancer in men: the facts
1) Breast cancer is men is rare but can develop rapidly. It usually occurs in those over the ages of 60, but can occasionally affect younger men.
2) Symptoms can include a lump, discharge, swollen glands or a rash.
3) People with a history of cancer in the family can be more susceptible.
4) Treatments include surgery and chemotherapy but early diagnosis is the key.
5) Anyone concerned is urged to contact their doctor
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
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The biog
From: Ras Al Khaimah
Age: 50
Profession: Electronic engineer, worked with Etisalat for the past 20 years
Hobbies: 'Anything that involves exploration, hunting, fishing, mountaineering, the sea, hiking, scuba diving, and adventure sports'
Favourite quote: 'Life is so simple, enjoy it'
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Read more about the coronavirus
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Four-day collections of TOH
Day Indian Rs (Dh)
Thursday 500.75 million (25.23m)
Friday 280.25m (14.12m)
Saturday 220.75m (11.21m)
Sunday 170.25m (8.58m)
Total 1.19bn (59.15m)
(Figures in millions, approximate)
The%20specs
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RESULT
Aston Villa 1
Samatta (41')
Manchester City 2
Aguero (20')
Rodri (30')
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
Pakistan World Cup squad
Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez(subject to fitness), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Junaid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain
Two additions for England ODIs: Mohammad Amir and Asif Ali
The First Monday in May
Director: Andrew Rossi
Starring: Anna Wintour, Karl Lagerfeld, John Paul Gaultier, Rihanna
Three stars
Key developments in maritime dispute
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
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.
BMW%20M4%20Competition
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPyppl%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEstablished%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2017%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAntti%20Arponen%20and%20Phil%20Reynolds%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20financial%20services%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2418.5%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEmployees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20150%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20series%20A%2C%20closed%20in%202021%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20venture%20capital%20companies%2C%20international%20funds%2C%20family%20offices%2C%20high-net-worth%20individuals%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
Frida%20
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