Sunday, Jan 05, 2014

Dubai/Al Ain

Pupils and faculty members termed it as a refreshing start as they return to their classrooms yesterday (Sunday) after a long winter break in the UAE. The early morning traffic were dotted with the yellow coloured school busses along with private vehicles signalling that its back to the school once again. The traffic police in various emirates deployed extra officials to coordinate and maintain the smooth traffic flow on the busy arteries of the cities and main roads.

Most of the schools witnessed over 90 per cent attendance with a very low absentee numbers.

Salem Abdul Aziz Al Khetheri, Director Al Ain Education Zone said that over 95 per cent of students in kindergarten, primary and secondary levels attended their schools in the city. The winter break is also a time for schools and other academic institutions to carry out the much required maintenance work before the academic year moves forward. “All the schools were equipped with the necessary facilities to help teachers and students,” said Al Khetheri.

“We have had such along break and I am sure that the pupils are looking forward to come back. It’s a fresh start and it is very good feeling around,” said Vandana Marwah, principal Delhi Private School, Sharjah.

Expressing his happiness on the 100 per cent attendance that the school received on the first day of reopening Ashok Kumar, Chief Executive Office, Indian High School, Dubai said: “The pupils look happy to be back. We have given them a corner in our liberary were they are free to share their vacation stories with the rest of the school. It is a great start.”

Meanwhile pupils who spoke to Gulf News seemed in their cheerful best with many eager to meet their friends.

Preetal. S a grade 7 pupil of Delhi Private School, Dubai said: “I am very excited to be back to school. I will get to meet all my friends and the teachers. The winter break was good but it is always nice to be back to the campus.”

Santosh Kumar a grade 6 pupil from Abu Dhabi said: “The winter break was too long for me. I got a bit bored. I was very much looking forward for the schools to reopen. Glad they did.”

Working parents to had to leave their children alone at home, heaved a sigh of relief as the school re-opening will allow to them to catch a breather. Says Pratiksha Sethi who works as a secretary in a Dubai-based company: “Both myself and my husband were not able to get leave. Since we do not have a nanny to look after our 12-year daughter, we use to leave her at home alone the whole day. It used to be so worrisome for both of us. But now the schools have reopened and we are glad that’s he will be in school and not home alone.”

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By Aftab Kazmi Bureau Chief and Sunita Menon Senior Reporter

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