Why UAE school closures are an important opportunity to fight coronavirus


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Starting today, schools and universities across the UAE will be closed for four weeks as a preventive measure to limit possible transmission of coronavirus. The annual two-week spring holiday has been moved forward and commences today. This will be followed by two weeks of regular lessons conducted via remote learning rather than in a physical classroom. The Ministry of Education has also announced it will be running a "sterilisation programme" for educational facilities and school buses.

Many residents of the Emirates are rightly concerned about the international coronavirus epidemic. It is important to remember, however, that countermeasures against the virus should serve as a source of comfort, rather than panic or fear.

A school bus passes in front of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai on March 04, 2020. Dubai Health Authority confirmed that a school pupil in the city was diagnosed with coronavirus after contracting it from her father. Ali Haider / EPA
A school bus passes in front of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai on March 04, 2020. Dubai Health Authority confirmed that a school pupil in the city was diagnosed with coronavirus after contracting it from her father. Ali Haider / EPA

Minimising school activities for a limited period during epidemics helps to keep children safe. It also limits the conversion of the nation's schools into springboards for wider transmission of the virus into the community. The discovery of a case in a Dubai high school last week further underscores the risk.

In a study carried out by the University of Michigan in the United States on that country's 1918 influenza pandemic, it was found that early decisions taken in many American cities to close schools were some of the most effective moves authorities had made in combatting the virus's spread.

Today, health officials today are better prepared to make some decisions than they were a century ago. The pause in school attendance in the UAE is occurring in tandem with similar measures around the world. Nearly 300 million students worldwide are missing classes this week, from Italy to China to Japan.

Unlike the UAE, however, many of those students will not have access to tools like remote learning. The Emirates are proving to be a pioneer in ensuring that even when class is cancelled, education continues.

And so it must. If there is one thing that humanity's ongoing experience with the coronavirus challenge teaches us, it is that education and knowledge are not only beneficial to our development, but integral to our survival. Effective crisis management requires smart, capable leadership. Young people in school today are tomorrow's leaders. Some will be policymakers and health workers. Good decision-making – from parents and public officials alike – will be key to setting an example for future generations.

So far, at least 45 cases of coronavirus have been formally identified in the UAE. While the global number of cases has hit the 100,000 mark, Gulf countries have taken all measures necessary to control the situation, including cancelling international events, banning flights from heavily affected countries and keeping the public informed on the best ways to keep the virus at bay. It is no wonder, then, that World Health Organisation regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Ahmed Al Mandhari told The National he was "happy about what has been done" by members states of the GCC.

The closure of schools and nurseries will surely affect parents’ schedules, and we should all do our best to accommodate that. This means allowing employees to take leave or work from home, but also offering to help friends and relatives whenever it is possible and safe to do so. Health crises, naturally, can be unnerving. But they afford an opportunity for individuals to learn more about what they can do to be responsible members of their communities. School is out for the spring, but the lessons for all of us are ongoing.

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Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

PROFILE OF INVYGO

Started: 2018

Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo

Based: Dubai

Sector: Transport

Size: 9 employees

Investment: $1,275,000

Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri

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PROFILE BOX

Company name: Overwrite.ai

Founder: Ayman Alashkar

Started: Established in 2020

Based: Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai

Sector: PropTech

Initial investment: Self-funded by founder

Funding stage: Seed funding, in talks with angel investors

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• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil

Electric scooters: some rules to remember
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  • Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
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What is the FNC?

The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning. 
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval. 
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
 

Tour de France 2017: Stage 5

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It is a shorter stage, but one that will lead to a brutal uphill finish. This is the third visit in six editions since it was introduced to the race in 2012. Reigning champion Chris Froome won that race.