Schools in Dubai are scheduled to reopen in September – KHDA

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Dubai’s education regulator, has said that schools in the emirate are currently scheduled to reopen in September.

On its website, within the Frequently Asked Questions, it also said that “it‘s still unknown what form this will take or whether that will change.”

It added: “We are working closely with our colleagues in the federal government, so that when a decision is made, it will be applicable to all schools in the UAE. We all hope to get schools open to students again as soon as it’s safe to do so.”

On March 30, the UAE’s Ministry of Education (MoE) announced that the distance learning programme which was initiated earlier that month across all schools and universities in the country would be extended until the end of the current academic year.

Read: All UAE schools, universities to extend e-learning programmes until June

The extension of e-learning prompted parents to seek relief related to school fees, with several schools across the country announcing fee waivers of around 20 per cent for the third term.

Read also: Revealed: All you need to know about tuition fee discounts offered by UAE schools

Last week, the UAE’s Ministry of Education said that any decision for the academic year 2020-2021, slated to begin in September, is still under review and will be taken based on the health situation and precautionary measures.

Education officials have reportedly envisioned three possible scenarios.

The first scenario is the continuation of the Covid-19 pandemic, where e-learning will remain 100 per cent of the education process.

Read more: Decision on 2020-2021 academic year ‘under review’ – UAE education ministry

The second scenario is a transitional phase after the virus has disappeared and the country makes a gradual recovery. Here, direct education will return at a rate ranging between 30-50 per cent.

The third scenario meanwhile is planned in the event that life returns to normal and this plan includes the incorporation of both direct and distance learning, but this will be done in proportion of 70 per cent direct education and 30 per cent e-learning so that ‘technological development and the transition to digital education can be maintained.