Parents, children looking forward to face-to-face classes

The fact that students will be going back to school for the new academic year to have face-to-face classes this September puts the parents and children of Abu Dhabi at great ease. With the onset of the pandemic, parents had a hard time managing their work, since there was a constant need to keep an eye on their kids who were undergoing online schooling. 

On the flip side, kids have been missing out on various school activities like sports, spending time with friends, etc. This June, The Abu Dhabi Emergency Crisis and Disaster Committee stated that it sanctioned the return of students to school for this new academic year, 2021-2022.

What parent Hassan Ihsan has to say about face-to-face classes:

An Egyptian father, Hassan Ihsan, commented that he is pleased with the opening of schools for children for face-to-face learning. He is confident about the safety of the children who are going back to school for offline classes. 

He vaccinated his 13-year-old son who is preparing for his new academic year. Ihsan also added that when the online classes were going on it was a tough task for him and his wife (who are both working) to check in on their two boys in grades 6 and 8.

He believes children would focus and be more attentive during offline classes than online ones. The children not only missed out on interacting with teachers and friends face-to-face but they also missed out on a variety of practical skills and other class activities.

Ahmed, his son is thrilled to meet his friends again when they go back to school. Ahmed said they had to attend online classes from home for more than a year so he misses hanging out and playing football and basketball with his friends.

What parent Sarah Mohammed has to say:

Emirati working mother Sarah Mohammed says that getting kids who are in grades 5 and 6 ready for online classes is a very difficult task due to her busy schedule.

She’s a working mother so it was hard for her to watch out for her kids during the online classes. She wants her kids to get back to in-person learning for the new year. There have been many times where she had to delay going to work till the kids completed their lessons which affected her efficiency at work.

Salama, her 9-year-old girl, says that she misses her teachers and playing with friends. She wants to return to school and meet her friends and teachers. She is much more active and enthusiastic in offline classes as she can directly interact with the teachers and play with her friends during intervals. 

What principal Neeraj Bhargava has to say:

The principal of Abu Dhabi Indian School, which has more than 5,000 registered students, Neeraj Bhargava, says that the school is looking forward to having the kids back for face-to-face classes in the new school year. 

He said the schools will continue with the hybrid model of learning with offline classes for two days and online classes for three days when the kids return for the new academic year. 

They have a huge number of students so it would be impossible to bring every child together at school at the same time with the social distancing protocols being followed. He said that most of the school staff have been vaccinated. 

Students studying in higher grades have also taken the vaccine. He said they are now looking for permission from the officials to allow them to organize vaccination programs at school for children from the age of twelve and above. The principal said that they have already sent a request to grant permission for this program, but it has not yet been approved by the ADEK.