Coronavirus: three more weeks of distance learning for Abu Dhabi schools

Decision taken to help limit the spread of Covid-19

Parents see off their children off to classes for the first time since March in August 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Naividh Pillai, aged 3, looks a little bewildered as he arrives for his first day at Gems Wellington Academy with sister Alaikha and parents Meera and Deepesh. Antonie Robertson / The National

Gems Wellington Academy in Al Khail opens for the start of the school year. Antonie Robertson/The National

Gems Wellington Academy in Al Khail opens for the start of the school year. Thermal monitors at the entrance scan people for signs of fever or high temperature. Antonie Robertson/The National

Gems Wellington Academy in Al Khail opens for the start of the school year. Antonie Robertson / The National

A pupil wearing a colourful face shield arrives at Horizon International School in Dubai on Sunday. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A mother helps her son sanitise his hands as he arrives at Horizon school. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Children arrive for school at Horizon International School in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Children arrive for school at Horizon International School in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A pupil gets her temperature checked at the entrance of Al Mizhar American Academy. Shruti Jain for The National

Pupils return to Al Mizhar American Academy in Dubai. Shruti Jain for The National

A staff member assists a pupil as Al Mizhar American Academy. Shruti Jain for The National

Tarryn Patel, a homeroom teacher from South Africa, attends to her grade 1 pupil at Al Mizhar American Academy. Shruti Jain for The National

Pupils are spaced apart at the cafetaria at Al Mizhar American Academy. Shruti Jain for The National

Schools in Abu Dhabi will continue distance learning for three more weeks, the emirate’s government announced.

Pupils had been set to return to classrooms on Sunday but the decision has been taken amid a surge in coronavirus cases in the UAE.

Authorities said the decision, which affects both private and public schools in the emirate, was taken to safeguard the "health and safety of the schooling community".

"The Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee announces the continuation of e-learning for all academic levels for three more weeks from January 17, as a precautionary measure to limit the spread of Covid-19 and protect the health and safety of the schooling community," Abu Dhabi Media Office said on Saturday.

All pupils, including those with chronic health conditions, were previously told they could return to in-person lessons on Sunday.

It is the second time that the return to classrooms for the new term has been delayed.

Officials had announced on December 30 that pupils would adopt distance learning for the first two weeks of the new term, which commenced on January 3.

This was also meant to include Years 7 to 9, who had not returned to classrooms since schools switched to distance learning in March.

The UAE has recorded a steep rise in infection numbers cases since the start of the year.

On Friday, a record-high 3,407 infections were confirmed.

Infection numbers have remained above 3,000 for the past four days.