Parents and guardians in the UAE have been warned that they can be fined Dh5,000 for denying their children an education.
The UAE's public prosecution reminded people of the country's child protection laws and penalties for neglecting children.
Authorities said on social media that people can also be jailed for failing to enrol children in schools without a reason or abandoning them.
The UAE approved its child protection legislation, also known as Wadeema's Law, on March 15, 2016.
It lays out the legal rights of minors in the country and protects children, defined as anyone aged under 18, from all types of abuse, be it physical, verbal or psychological.
Articles 31, 35 and 60 of Federal Law No 3 of 2016 list the education and other rights of children in the UAE. Neglecting them could lead to jail time or a minimum fine of Dh5,000. Some of them include:
1) Preventing children dropping out of school.
2) Encouraging the participation of children and their parents in the decisions relating to children.
3) Banning all kinds of violence (corporal punishment) in educational institutions and maintaining the dignity of the children when making decisions.
4) Developing the educational system, including kindergartens to ensure the development of every child.
5) Complaints and any offences must be investigated.
Pupils back to school across UAE - in pictures
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The first day of school after the summer break at the Delhi Private School in The Gardens, Jebel Ali, Dubai. All photos: Antonie Robertson / The National -
Masked pupils learn in a classroom at the Delhi Private School. -
Pupils arrive for the first day of the new term at the Delhi Private School. -
A pupil gets back into the swing of school with coloured pencils and hand sanitiser at the Delhi Private School. -
Teachers and staff greet incoming pupils. -
A teacher leads a welcome back activity at the Delhi Private School. -
Pupils prepare to learn on the first day of school after the summer break. -
Children get organised on the first day of school. -
A staff member checks a pupil's temperature. -
The first day of school after the summer break at the Delhi Private School. -
A pupil shows off his creativity on the first day of school. -
Pupils get organised on the first day of the new term at the Delhi Private School. -
The first day of school after the summer break at the Delhi Private School. -
A staff member performs temperature checks as pupils arrive. -
Children arrive at the Delhi Private School for the first day of the new term. -
Learning to read at the Delhi Private School. -
Teachers and staff members welcome pupils on their first day back at school. -
Parents drop children off at the Delhi Private School.
