Grade one pupils during their augmented reality class at the Gems Metropole School in Dubai. Pawan Singh/The National
Grade one pupils during their augmented reality class at the Gems Metropole School in Dubai. Pawan Singh/The National
Grade one pupils during their augmented reality class at the Gems Metropole School in Dubai. Pawan Singh/The National
Grade one pupils during their augmented reality class at the Gems Metropole School in Dubai. Pawan Singh/The National

Five ways Covid-19 changed education for the better - not worse


Anam Rizvi
  • English
  • Arabic

Pupils were taught in the same manner for about 200 years – from memorising maths tables and foreign language phrases, to cramming facts for exams.

Then, the pandemic came along and the world of learning changed completely.

Schools and universities around the world moved from in-person classes to online learning in a matter of weeks as a result of the pandemic.

Many children were away from face-to-face learning until late 2020, or even early this year.

The pandemic revolutionised education as schools, universities, and nurseries had to quickly adapt.

So what should we hold on to from the pandemic and what should we jettison?

Online learning - but not as you know it

In-person learning was disrupted by the pandemic, which forced classes to move online.

Worst case scenario: pupils were downloading study sheets assigned from some school intranet. Not great.

But the best use of this new technology should be here to stay – for good.

Lisa Johnson, principal at the American Academy for Girls in Dubai, said the way they taught pupils spurred teachers and parents to be more dynamic.

“We were teaching children like they were taught 200 years ago," she said.

"The pandemic forced us to transform our programmes to meet the needs of pupils. The ramp-up for that was incredibly steep but teachers stepped up and learnt how to do it."

She said the change was long overdue.

Concepts such as a flipped classroom, where pupils watch a recorded lesson beforehand and came to class to have a discussion, were not used much before the pandemic, but became popular during this period.

The method is closer to the way university students study before a group session.

When used best, it is how workplace employees come to a meeting to tackle a challenge.

Ms Johnson said she hoped the creativity and improvisation that had been injected into the system would continue post pandemic.

Lulu Akkila, an Emirati working mother of five and chair of the advisory board at the American Academy for Girls in Dubai, said that in the initial days of the pandemic, pupils, parents and schools were not prepared for online learning.

“The school put in effort to help parents with technical issues," Ms Akkila said.

“The technology played a major role in changing things around for parents and pupils, but not all children enjoyed online learning because they missed their friends."

She said online learning had its pros and cons

“While it opened doors for lots of opportunities for them and they could see their friends on Zoom, I was worried about my children spending so much time on their iPads,” she said.

Ms Akkila said she wanted her children to play and enjoy their childhood, not just spend time on their devices.

Mental health must escape its buzzword origins

The pandemic brought health pressures to the fore – in good ways and bad.

For all the recognition that was achieved in countless news articles and social media posts, what changed at the coalface of education?

In September, mental health and well-being studies will be part of the curriculum when Brighton College Dubai begins its sixth form class.

“Pupils and teachers' well-being really came to the fore – particularly teachers who were a long way from home," Richard Drew, principal at Jumeira Baccalaureate School, told The National.

Schools had to support pupils who were stranded abroad and could not come back to the country because of border closures.

Children's well-being became a concern in the region and countries around the world during the past year.

Nearly one in three teenagers in a 2020 US study said their mental health had suffered because of the pressures of the pandemic.

“After a couple of months, we realised that some pupils were thriving while others were crumbling,” Rehab Ali, academic director at Stars of Knowledge School in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, told The National in March.

“Some teachers felt the pressure because they were supposed to handle the whole curriculum online.”

How teachers and parents talk now

Some schools in the UAE decided to move their parent-teacher-meetings online to help parents, particularly working parents, who struggled to attend sessions.

Parent evenings will be held online across all Taaleem schools after the practice proved popular with families.

"The way in which we communicated and met with pupils and parents changed during the pandemic,' Mr Drew said.

He said that previously parents would have to make appointments and come in and sometimes meetings would overrun or not all the parents would turn up.

Now, parents can book an appointment for a few minutes and need take only that time out of their schedules.

This shift mirrors a global trend to keep parent-teacher meetings online even after the pandemic.

In May, media in the UK reported that parents' evenings were likely to remain online beyond the pandemic.

Ms Johnson, at the American Academy for Girls in Dubai, said the school would offer virtual and in-person options to parents.

How do we help struggling teachers?

Because parents had to be more engaged than ever before in their children's learning, it made them appreciate the hard work teachers put in to educate young people.

In the early days of online learning, parents reported struggling to print worksheets and help children complete assignments.

"The pandemic has certainly led to parents appreciating the work and effort of teachers more," said Sheela Menon, principal at Ambassador School, an Indian curriculum school in Dubai.

"A prolonged model of virtual classes can be frustrating for both the parents and children.

"Neither are parents trained to play the role of a teacher nor is home always the best environment for developing social skills in children when they need to interact with a wider circle of peers."

Ms Johnson also said that parents of pupils in early years had more empathy for teachers now and understood the challenges they face.

"Teachers work incredibly hard and I have heard from parents about the support they received," she said.

Ms Akkila said that parents had to wear many hats during the pandemic, but teachers had it tougher.

"We [parents] did a lot of work that we were not used to. We were teachers as well as technicians for our children," she said.

"The teachers also had it very difficult. In addition to being teachers they were parents. Whatever role we played with our children, they could not be with their families.

Mr Drew said he was conscious about the mental health of his staff during the pandemic.

"The school ensured teachers were cared for and created a buddy system so they did not feel isolated. School officials would call teachers and make sure they felt supported," he said.

"School counsellors and teachers would meet pupils online, offer support or advice. Counselling was provided when needed."

The end of exams - at least for now?

Major summer exams were cancelled for most curricula this year including GCSEs, A Levels and Indian boards.

In the absence of exams, governments, schools, and boards had to rethink how to assess pupils.

This year, unlike in 2020 when an algorithm was used, teacher-assessed grades were given to A-level pupils, verified by exam boards.

Pupils in the UAE did not sit summer exams for the Central Board of Secondary Education this year after Indian authorities cancelled tests.

Children's school work and project work over the course of the year was assessed.

"The very concept of assessments and rewarding of grades underwent a massive change for the good," Sheela Menon sais.

Pearson, a major exam board, in a survey of 1,100 teachers in the UK found that eight of out 10 teachers said high-stake exams should be taken throughout the year.

It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Jetour T1 specs

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GAC GS8 Specs

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Transmission: 8-speed auto

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Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
  • Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
  • Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
  • Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
  • Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
  • Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
  • Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo

Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000

Engine: 5.6-litre V8

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm

Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km

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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

Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association
Tickets

Tickets for the 2019 Asian Cup are available online, via www.asiancup2019.com

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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Tonight's Chat on The National

Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.

Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.

Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.

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Lexus LX700h specs

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Sunday:
GP3 race: 12:10pm
Formula 2 race: 1:35pm
Formula 1 race: 5:10pm
Performance: Guns N' Roses

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

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The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

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The specs

Engine: Turbocharged four-cylinder 2.7-litre

Power: 325hp

Torque: 500Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh189,700

On sale: now

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Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

Richard Jewell

Director: Clint Eastwood

Stars: Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, Brandon Stanley

Two-and-a-half out of five stars 

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
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While you're here
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Updated: April 23, 2025, 8:50 AM`