All pupils and staff will have to undergo a swab test to prove they are free of Covid-19 before they return to classrooms in Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge confirmed pupils will have to take a test before they are allowed to enter the classroom.
Pupils and staff will be routinely screened for infection to ensure their safety, the authority said.
"We have recently issued our private school reopening policies and guidelines which detail procedures for schools prior to the resumption of in-class teaching," the authority said.
“In line with measures implemented by the UAE government, Adek’s policies also stipulate that all private school staff and pupils in the emirate of Abu Dhabi must declare their recent travel history and undergo Covid-19 testing prior to returning to the school premises."
Under the department's guidelines, pupils over the age of 6 must wear masks throughout the school day when they return after the summer.
Pupils' temperatures will also be checked daily with a non-contact thermometer before they enter school.
Pupils aged 6 and above equates to to grade 1, or year 2 in the British system.
“If your child is unable to wear a mask, they may be allowed to wear a face shield if supported by a medical certificate," the guidelines said.
“Children of determination with hearing impairments may use transparent masks.”
Pupils must bring at least two masks to school to wear during the day and carry a 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based sanitiser with them, if they can.
Gloves are not recommended but may be worn, and pupils must remain 1.5 metres apart at all times.
Younger children who may find it difficult to maintain social distancing in kindergarten and the early primary grades may be grouped into bubbles of up to 10 pupils.
"A bubble is a group of pupils and staff member who spend the entire day together and do not interact with others," the authority said.
It is likely that classes will be split into two or more groups to accommodate social distancing. Children will remain in their group until the end of the pandemic.
The department said some schools may convert non-teaching areas such as gymnasiums and libraries into classrooms.
Pupils will receive regular breaks which will "likely be very different from what they experienced in pre-Covid times".
Swings, slides and other playground equipment may not be available for an initial period after reopening “to reduce the chances of cross contamination”.
"Children will be allowed to take off their masks to have lunch under supervision," the authority said.
PE lessons will be suspended until further notice and schools may offer fewer subjects such as music, art and performing arts, the authority said.
Sessions will, however, be offered to children on topics such as cyber safety, dealing with loss and/or bereavement and anxiety "to support them in navigating these challenging times", the authority said.
Schools have been given the choice to allow children into school full time; on alternating days, for half days; alternating weeks; or a combination of the above.
Schools must decide and have their plans approved by the authority before they let parents know, by July 30, which model they will follow.
Full distance-learning will not be an option and all children must be enrolled in school, as opposed to being taught at home by their parents.
Children who are being schooled at home in the new academic year run the risk of having to repeat it once they rejoin the mainstream, the authority said.
On Tuesday, Arabic newspaper Al Roeya said all pupils and teachers returning to UAE schools after the summer would be tested for Covid-19 in a large screening operation, citing Ministry of Education documents. Ministry officials declined to confirm the report and told The National discussions were ongoing.
Adek's statement in full:
Adek is working closely with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the safest possible return to in-classroom education for students and teachers.
We have recently issued our private school reopening policies and guidelines which detail procedures for schools prior to the resumption of in-class teaching.
In line with measures implemented by the UAE government, Adek’s policies also stipulate that all private school staff and pupils in the emirate of Abu Dhabi must declare their recent travel history and undergo Covid-19 testing prior to returning to the school premises.
Further tests will be carried out routinely to ensure the safety of all pupils and staff.
Adek policies align with national efforts to limit the spread of Covid-19, with all staff, parents and pupils mandated to download the Al Hosn app, as per government guidelines.
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What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Barings Bank
Barings, one of Britain’s oldest investment banks, was
founded in 1762 and operated for 233 years before it went bust after a trading
scandal.
Barings Bank collapsed in February 1995 following colossal
losses caused by rogue trader Nick Lesson.
Leeson gambled more than $1 billion in speculative trades,
wiping out the venerable merchant bank’s cash reserves.
On Instagram: @WithHopeUAE
Although social media can be harmful to our mental health, paradoxically, one of the antidotes comes with the many social-media accounts devoted to normalising mental-health struggles. With Hope UAE is one of them.
The group, which has about 3,600 followers, was started three years ago by five Emirati women to address the stigma surrounding the subject. Via Instagram, the group recently began featuring personal accounts by Emiratis. The posts are written under the hashtag #mymindmatters, along with a black-and-white photo of the subject holding the group’s signature red balloon.
“Depression is ugly,” says one of the users, Amani. “It paints everything around me and everything in me.”
Saaed, meanwhile, faces the daunting task of caring for four family members with psychological disorders. “I’ve had no support and no resources here to help me,” he says. “It has been, and still is, a one-man battle against the demons of fractured minds.”
In addition to With Hope UAE’s frank social-media presence, the group holds talks and workshops in Dubai. “Change takes time,” Reem Al Ali, vice chairman and a founding member of With Hope UAE, told The National earlier this year. “It won’t happen overnight, and it will take persistent and passionate people to bring about this change.”
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
(All games 4-3pm kick UAE time) Bayern Munich v Augsburg, Borussia Dortmund v Bayer Leverkusen, Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin, Wolfsburg v Mainz , Eintracht Frankfurt v Freiburg, Union Berlin v RB Leipzig, Cologne v Schalke , Werder Bremen v Borussia Monchengladbach, Stuttgart v Arminia Bielefeld
Bookshops: A Reader's History by Jorge Carrión (translated from the Spanish by Peter Bush),
Biblioasis
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Dubai World Cup Carnival card:
6.30pm: Handicap (Turf) | US$175,000 | 2,410 metres
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (Dirt) | $100,000 | 1,400m
7.40pm: Handicap (T) | $145,000 | 1,000m
8.15pm: Dubawi Stakes Group 3 (D) | $200,000 | 1,200m
8.50pm: Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (T) | $200,000 | 1,800m
9.25pm: Handicap (T) | $175,000 | 1,400m
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
