ABU DHABI — Emirates Schools Establishment (ESE), an independent entity that manages and operates public schools in the United Arab Emirates, announced on Sunday the reopening of public schools (physical learning) for the next academic year 2021-2022. The move is in line with the country's efforts toward returning to normal life amid precautionary and preventive measures to ensure the safety of the students, teachers, and administrators, the school establishment said in a statement carried by the UAE's official news agency WAM. The public school operator stated that a special protocol for returning to school will be fully developed in coordination with the Ministry of Education, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority and other authorities in the country to ensure the safety of the students and the educational cadre. The school operator added that it will work closely with school principals, given their vital role in creating a safe environment and in training teachers and administrators, guaranteeing a full implementation of the protocol to encourage students to return to school. It stated that each school will be handled separately based on its data and without affecting the country's public education system. Distance learning will remain in place if parents wish to opt for this option, considering the highest safety standards being put in place for the students and the school community upon returning to school. The public school operator urged parents to cooperate with the country's concerned authorities to implement the decision, reflecting positively on the students, allowing them to get the needed support from their teachers and resuming their activities with their classmates in a safe educational environment. It emphasized that student safety is a top priority that requires full cooperation from parents, teachers, supervisors, administrators and students themselves, contributing to a safe return to schools on the 29th of August 2021 to continue their educational journey. According to the academic calendar, the students' return will coincide with teachers and administrators returning full-time at schools. The school operator said that it is working to guarantee schools are ready to welcome students for the academic year 2021-2022.
