Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education announced on Tuesday that all pupils would return to in-classroom learning and that it would lift Covid-19 measures including social distancing.
Most children have been studying remotely for almost two years, but with the Covid-19 recovery rate up to 90 per cent, from March 20, children will return to school and will not have to practise social distancing during assembly, prayer, sports, playtime or lessons.
“It has been the most challenging two years with all parents stuck at home due to online learning which was so difficult. They didn’t enjoy being at home all the time and missed the real interaction and the classroom atmosphere,” she said.
“My 6-year-old daughter was jumping with joy when I told her she can go back and be with her classmates. I can finally get around to doing things for myself, like working out, while the kids are at school. It was absolutely essential for parents and children.”
Her daughter Alia said: “I missed my friends.”
The Ministry of Education has issued guidelines on how to limit the spread of Covid-19.
“My students were very happy when I let them know they will be playing sports together and everything is going back to normal. There were cheers and excitement all around,” said Abbas Al Wayli, an Egyptian physical education instructor living in Jeddah.
“We are all really happy to be able to go back to normal and engage in daily activities like we did pre-corona.”
“It makes sense for contact sports especially. Kids want to play and interact with their teammates, which was impossible with their masks and social distancing.”
The ministry said children under the age of 12, even those at kindergarten, will return to school in the third semester of this year, which will start on March 20.
This month, the Saudi government scrapped Covid-19 restrictions with masks no longer required in open spaces, and no social distancing.
Tourists no longer need to quarantine or provide PCR tests.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.
Cherry
Directed by: Joe and Anthony Russo
Starring: Tom Holland, Ciara Bravo
1/5
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
