Pupils can continue with online learning for the first term of school, education chiefs confirmed on Sunday.
As schools gear up to reopen on August 30, parents of pupils at all private and public institutions can pick in-person classes or continue with remote learning.
The Ministry of Education said the move aims to safeguard the health of staff and pupils.
Private education regulators in Dubai and in Abu Dhabi had earlier confirmed that pupils at private facilities would have a distance learning option.
"Parents have been allowed to freely choose between their children's mode of attendance, face to face at school or through distance learning, for the first term, to achieve stability within the school community and to ensure the safety of our students, while meeting the requirements of physical distancing," the ministry said.
About 1,099,331 children at 1,262 private and public schools across the UAE will start the new academic year on August 30.
And education chiefs have developed comprehensive plans for a gradual return of pupils to UAE's schools.
They have been closed since March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Also on Sunday, Abu Dhabi's Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek) announced that pupils at Abu Dhabi's private schools will have a staggered return.
Only those in kindergarten or foundation stage two to year six will return to school for in-person classes on August 30.
Children in year seven and above will start face-to-face classes four weeks later.
It was just one of several regulations announced by Adek regarding the safe return of pupils to classrooms in Abu Dhabi. Adek also stipulated that pupils over the age of 12, teaching staff and employees must undergo Covid-19 tests; classroom sizes are restricted to 15, while pupils must maintain a physical distance of 1.5 metres.
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Healthy tips to remember
Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:
Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast
Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits
Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day
Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet
Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
Tips for used car buyers
- Choose cars with GCC specifications
- Get a service history for cars less than five years old
- Don’t go cheap on the inspection
- Check for oil leaks
- Do a Google search on the standard problems for your car model
- Do your due diligence. Get a transfer of ownership done at an official RTA centre
- Check the vehicle’s condition. You don’t want to buy a car that’s a good deal but ends up costing you Dh10,000 in repairs every month
- Validate warranty and service contracts with the relevant agency and and make sure they are valid when ownership is transferred
- If you are planning to sell the car soon, buy one with a good resale value. The two most popular cars in the UAE are black or white in colour and other colours are harder to sell
Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Grubtech
Founders: Mohamed Al Fayed and Mohammed Hammedi
Launched: October 2019
Employees: 50
Financing stage: Seed round (raised $2 million)
