Dubai pupils below the age of 12 who have travelled abroad must complete 14 days of distance learning on their return to the UAE, education authorities said.
Schools will welcome back staff and pupils for the first time in more than five months on Sunday after closing their doors in March to help stem the spread of Covid-19.
The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Dubai's private schools regulator, has already set out a raft of guidelines to ensure schools can operate safely, including the use of face masks for staff and children aged six and over and seats being placed 1.5m apart in classrooms.
While the KHDA has stated pupils in Dubai are not required to take Covid-19 tests, measures have been put in place for younger children returning from overseas breaks.
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Twins Ghazal (left) and Yara Ghnimat pictured shopping for masks at Mall of the Emirates before their return to school earlier this month. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
The Ghnimat family shops for back-to-school equipment at Mall of the Emirates. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Dorsai Khaghani says she spent hundreds of dirhams on colourful face masks for her five-year-old daughter Karla. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Patricia, aged 6, with her newly purchased face masks at the LC Waikiki shop in Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa /The National -
Masks on sale at Claire's Accessories in Mall of the Emirates. Retailers said they had sold thousands of child-sized masks in recent days. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Children's face masks and face sheilds for sale at LC Waikiki shop in Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa /The National -
Visa Singh with parents Vijai and Sarika pictured shopping for back to school supplies. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
The Ubaldo family were among the many families to spend hundreds on masks and gloves, along with the usual back to school supplies. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
A shopper passes sale posters at Mall of the Emirates. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Children's face masks and face sheilds for sale at LC Waikiki shop in Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa /The National -
Children's face masks and face sheilds for sale at LC Waikiki shop in Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa /The National -
A girl with a face mask on passes a mannequin promoting face mask sales at the LC Waikiki shop in Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa /The National -
Children's face masks and face sheilds for sale at LC Waikiki shop in Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa /The National -
Children's face masks for sale at LC Waikiki shop in Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa /The National
"Pupils under the age of 12 with a travel history will have to undergo mandatory 14 days distance learning from their date of arrival," the authority stated in a notice sent out to schools.
The decision means that if a pupil returned from holiday one week before their first day back at school, they would have to continue distance learning for one week before being allowed to return to the classroom.
Nearly 300,000 pupils will return to 209 private schools in Dubai next week.
“Only those who show symptoms of Covid-19 are required to take the PCR test," KHDA stated in a previous directive.
Staff members who have taken a nasal swab test on or after August 20, are exempt from additional testing, according to the authority.
"All school staff members are required to carry out a Covid-19 PCR test prior to the re-opening of the school for the new academic year/term," read the statement.
"Upon the onset of the academic year, the school should collect health and travel declaration forms from all students and staff. The template of the form can be developed by the school.
“Staff who have carried out a Covid-19 test in Dubai recently and have a copy of the results will not be required to re-take the test.”
In Abu Dhabi, all pupils over the age of 12 will be tested for Covid-19 before they can return to classrooms.
Many schools in Dubai are opening fully with all pupils returning to classrooms but in Abu Dhabi, schools will have a staggered return to classrooms.
Classes will resume for those in kindergarten to Grade 5 under the US system, and for FS2 (Reception) to Year 6 under the British one.
Youngsters in all other years will start face-to-face lessons four weeks later.
