Schools in Sharjah are asking parents to sign a Covid-19 declaration form promising to act responsibly if their children contract the virus or show symptoms.
This includes informing schools if children are suspected cases, picking them up promptly if they get sick in school, and adhering to isolation rules if they test positive.
Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA), the regulator of private schools in the emirate, said signing the form is one of several mandatory measures outlined in their safety protocol.
“The undertaking was clearly defined in the guide, a copy of which was sent to all private schools in the emirate,” said Ali Al Hosani, director of SPEA.
He said parents must get their children tested and keep them home if they get sick or are a close contact of an infected person.
“We urge all schools to send this form to parents. It preserves public health and helps in continuing regular face-to-face lessons."
Samar Murad, principal of the International School of Creative Science in the Muwaileh area of Sharjah, said they had informed parents of the required procedures, which include signing an undertaking.
“We made sure to inform parents of all updates to precautionary measures and are currently corresponding with them to sign the home-school contract,” she said.
“Parents have been very co-operative and played an active role in managing the Covid-19 situation.”
Parent Nora Saleem, 47, from Jordan, whose daughter is a pupil at the International School of Choueifat in the emirate, signed the form and said it will not only help protect pupils and school staff but the larger community.
“A pupil infecting another pupil means their teachers, classmates, larger families, and every person they come in touch with, is at risk,” Ms Saleem said.
She said parents should be responsible without being asked to be so.
“Showing responsibility towards keeping our children, loved ones, and people around us safe is a part of parenting.”
This year, authorities relaxed Covid-19 safety rules for schools as case numbers decline steadily.
Pupils aged 12 and over, teaching and administrative staff, and service providers at government schools and private schools in the country, excluding Dubai, needed a negative PCR test result no more than 96 hours before the start of the new school year.
Alothough periodic tests will not be required because the UAE adopted a symptom-only strategy last term, caution is advised, and any child showing Covid-19 symptoms should stay at home and take a PCR test.
UAE pupils go back to school - in pictures
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Pupils arriving on the first day back of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. Nearly 13,000 pupils went back for in-person classes across three campuses. All photos: Ruel Pableo for The National -
Pupils arriving on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. Close to 95 per cent of these pupils were returning to in-person schooling for the first time in 18 months. -
Pupils arriving on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. Pupils were excited to meet their friends and teachers again. -
Pupils go through the proper sanitation protocol on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Pupils queuing to enter their classrooms on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Pupils arriving in school buses on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Pupils queuing to enter their classrooms on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Pupils arriving on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Pupils arriving on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Pupils queuing to enter their classrooms on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Pupils queuing to enter their classrooms on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Teacher Usha Devi on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Students on their first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Punit MK Vasu, chief executive of the Indian High School, on the first day of in-person learning. -
Pupils listen to their teacher on their first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Priyal Babariya was one of the pupils to attend on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Sian Shinjo, a 10th grader at the school, said: 'I am a bit nervous as everything has changed a lot. I am sure it will be safe, and the school has kept us informed.' -
Rohi Ilyas, a mother-of-two and an entrepreneur, said her children had studied at home for 18 months. -
Utkarsh Chaube, father of a 13-year-old pupil at the Indian High School, said his son spent about 10 to 12 hours in a day in front of a screen when studying remotely. -
Pupils on their first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School. -
Sathya Lakshmi, 15, said seeing everyone back together was the most special part of returning to in-person classes. -
Uma Madhumohan, whose daughter Tejasvi is a 10th grader at the school, said her daughter was excited to get back to learning. -
'I am on cloud nine. It’s been one-and-a-half-years since I have been on campus for in-person classes and I have missed it and my friends terribly,' said Nehan Naseem Ali, 12. -
Pupils back at work inside the classroom. -
'Having the pupils back is unbelievable. I feel ecstatic,' said Punit MK Vasu, chief executive of the Indian High School. -
Indian High school -
