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Sixty-one percent of the parents in the UAE are confident about sending their children back to school after the summer break, a recent survey has shown.
The study, commissioned by Centrepoint and conducted by YouGov from 22 to 29 July, focused on parents’ concerns about schools reopening following the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the survey, 49 percent of respondents are willing to send their children in physical classrooms on a regular basis with 100 percent attendance.
“The nationwide school closures in spring and the distinctive rise of online learning due to COVID-19 has dramatically transformed the education systems and enforced educators to rethink their learning models. Going back to school won’t look the same this year,” Simon Smith, Chief Operating Officer of Centrepoint, said.
Sixty-four percent of parents said that hygiene and safety protocols employed by the school are one of the key factors that will influence the choice on whether to send their children back to school, while 52 percent believe that the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine is the second important aspect to consider.
The biggest challenge faced from distance learning according to 62 percent of parents was keeping their children motivated and engaged during e-learning.
Forty-three percent of respondents prefer a hybrid school opening scenario - a mix between virtual and in-person education, with most support for an alternate-day or week staggered schedule for students, the survey showed.
Twenty-five percent of parents advocate online learning and want it to continue, while 19 percent believe in physical schooling.
(Writing by Gerard Aoun; editing by Seban Scaria)
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