All Sharjah private schools to have 100% distance learning for first two weeks

The Sharjah Private Education Authority has said that all private schools within the emirate will have a 100 per cent distance learning model for the first two weeks of its reopening.

The announcement was made via a tweet on the regulatory authority’s Twitter page on Tuesday night.

The decision also attributed to the Local Emergency Crisis & Disaster Management Authority of Sharjah said that they had decided to take the step “to ensure the health and safety of students, teachers and educational staff” amid the current Covid-19 crisis.

To ensure health & safety of the students, teachers & educational staff; the Local Emergency Crisis & Disaster Management Authority of Sharjah & the Sharjah Private Education Authority have decided on the #distancelearning mode for the first 2 weeks of 2020/2021 #academicyear. pic.twitter.com/tXwXHLR8Qi

— هيئة الشـارقة للتعليم الخاص (@shjspea) August 25, 2020

“The situation is being continuously monitored and we will keep sharing updates,” It added.

Schools across the country are gearing up for a hybrid learning model with several schools permitting students to opt between in-person classes or distance learning modes when the academic year commences next week on August 30.

In Sharjah’s neighbouring emirate of Dubai, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has said that students returning to private schools in Dubai at the beginning of the new academic year do not need to undergo a Covid-19 PCR test.

Read: Covid-19 tests not mandatory for students in Dubai returning to school – KHDA

All school staff in Dubai though are required to take the Covid-19 PCR test prior to the start of term, the cost of which will be borne by the Dubai Government.

Meanwhile in Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek) has said that students can resume attending schools. However, parents visiting school premises must present a Covid-19 negative test result in order to be allowed onto the campus.

Read: Abu Dhabi confirms school campuses can reopen for the new academic year