COVID-19 vaccine UAE: Schools see spike in students opting for campus lessons

Some even organised innovative 'welcome back' activities, with support animals on campus to alleviate anxieties and bring pupils extra cheer.

Dubai's schools welcomed their students back to classrooms again on Sunday, after a three-week winter break.

Nav Iqbal, Principal and CEO of GEMS Metropole School, Motor City, said, “The day started with a new addition to our staffing body — Lotus, the emotional support dog, who walked around the school to help alleviate any anxieties students had about being back. Many stopped and said hi to Lotus, who kept his social distance and waved at them with his paw.”

He added, “There is so much positive energy in the school, with smiling eyes everywhere — and, no doubt, smiles under the masks too. There was a positive sense of community in the morning as parents, students and staff wished each other a happy New Year — one with hope and optimism as well as the reality that safety and precautions will still be a part of our daily routines and lives. I could hear the excitement of young people, happy to be back in school, while walking through the corridors.”

Many school principals oversaw the arrangements, greeting their students and staff at the entrance to campuses.

Nargish Khambatta, Principal of Gems Modern Academy (GMA) said, “The entire senior leadership team is very excited to welcome all the children back and the numbers of those coming back have doubled. I think there is a sense of optimism in the air. I don’t know whether it’s the vaccine or the New Year or generally due to the effort that teachers have taken to pep up the children, making sure that they were busy. But I think that positive spirit will hold us together — while masks and social distancing will keep us safe. I would like to thank the parents for their trust and for sending their children to school.”

Schools say they are also seeing many new students and are helping them to settle in through specific initiatives.

Simon Herbert, Head of School and CEO of GEMS international School Al Khail, said, “The atmosphere on entry was one of excitement at being back to school. We have many new students as well and we have helped them to settle in through specific buddying systems, messaging through the holidays, and walking them to their classrooms today. Parents of young children have had conversations in person and a refresher on all the activities in place to help their children settle in."

Institutions have also opined that Covid-19 and the vaccine rollout in the UAE are at the forefront of everyone’s minds, as students and staff discuss both subjects with great enthusiasm.

Herbert said, “Some of our students are on remote learning, by choice, but the vast majority are back on campus. Covid-19 is a common topic but the levels of hygiene in our schools are extremely reassuring. The fact that Dubai authorities insisted on PCR tests with a 48- hour validity for campus entry for all those who travelled is also a reassuring factor for many families. The other big topic with regard to the virus is the vaccine and when educators will receive them. Education is high priority in the UAE, so we know this is at the forefront of KHDA's and DHA's thinking.”

The robust and consistently applied measures that are in place to prevent the spread of the virus have led to real confidence in the school, said Matthew Tompkins, Principal and CEO, Gems FirstPoint School The Villa. “A lot of planning has gone into the start of the new term, as we welcome 38 new joiners and an additional 92 students returning to face-to-face learning from distance learning," he said.

"This now means that we have more than 90% of students who have returned to face-to-face learning. The conversations with parents this morning were very pleasant and focused on the excitement of the new term, rather than any concerns around Covid-19.”