UAE school principals expect GCSE and A-level exams to be cancelled again this year after the UK entered its third national lockdown on Tuesday.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the measure, which will last into mid-February, includes a return to remote learning for primary schools, secondary schools and colleges. He also said exams would need to be reconsidered.
“We recognise that this will mean it is not possible or fair for all exams to go ahead this summer as normal. The education secretary will work with Ofqual to put in place alternative arrangements,” Mr Johnson said.
Prior to the announcement, headteachers in the UK said final exams were in peril because schools could not reopen.
A change or cancellation of the tests, sat at ages 16 and 18 respectively, would have repercussions across the globe, because British-curriculum schools follow the UK line.
It means thousands of pupils in the Emirates could face school-assessed grades for a second year.
Principals here have now urged UK authorities to make a quick decision to prevent a repeat of last year’s uncertainty.
It is not possible or fair for all exams to go ahead this summer as normal
Britain UK is battling a lethal coronavirus spike after a new variant of the virus was detected in the country.
School principals in the UAE said they needed clarity on how pupils would be assessed if exams were cancelled.
"The exams will not be the same and boards will come up with an alternative arrangement," said Ms Fiona Cottam, principal of Hartland International School in Dubai.
"We don't know if they will review the content or ask for predicted grades.
“Last year they began taking these decisions in April, and it’s only January.
“This year, they have more time to organise, plan, and make alternative provisions.”
Ms Cottam said pupils in some British schools in the UAE, including Hartland International School in Dubai, will sit two mock exams in case exams are cancelled in 2021.
She said she hoped authorities would consult teachers and find a better way forward than they did last year if exams were to be cancelled.
Brendon Fulton, principal at Dubai British School Jumeirah Park, said he was highly sceptical that GCSE and A-level exams would go ahead in the UAE.
“There is a strong possibility that the [English] government will follow the lead of the Scottish and Welsh exam boards by cancelling the exams and relying on school-assessed grades as they did last year.
“The early announcement by the Scottish and Welsh exam boards would have been welcome by schools.
“British schools, however, are left in the same position as last year, with late information on decisions that make planning quite difficult.”
There are 302,000 pupils at the UAE’s British-curriculum schools, according to ISC Research, a provider of educational data. This means thousands of pupils will be affected.
At the Dubai British School group, 120 pupils are set to sit GCSEs while 60 are waiting to sit their A-levels.
Schools had already prepared for the possibility that exams would be cancelled by conducting rigorous internal assessments and pre-empting course work requirements across all subjects.
Mr Fulton said because of the chaos caused by coronavirus – with many in the UK unable to access education – an early decision on cancelling exams would be better.
“I don’t believe that the formal exam process can offer a level playing field for all students,” Mr Fulton said.
“The right thing to do would be to make an early announcement on the cancellation of exams and allow the exam boards to support schools in preparing school-assessed grades.”
In Scotland in October and Wales in November cancelled exams for 2021 and replaced them with assessment.
Mark Leppard, headmaster at British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi, wrote to UK education secretary, Gavin Williamson regarding the issue, prior to the announcement on Monday.
All pupils should have the equal opportunity for success. Some pupils have had distance learning while others had in-person classes in the UK,” said Mr Leppard. “If you are not able to access teachers it cannot be an equal footing.”
He said he received a reply stating the government was looking into the matter.
Mr Leppard said the vaccines may help things return to normality but getting it everyone might take time.
He hoped things would be more organised than last year when it came to A-levels as pupils depended on the grades for university spots.
“My advice to pupils is to focus on the here and now. Do the best with what is in front of you so the school will have rich data showing your performance.”
Shanessa Fernandes, a Year 13 pupil at Gems Metropole School in Dubai, said she was aware exams could be cancelled any day but had learnt to cope.
“We understand how it works and we have evidence so exam being cancelled is not necessarily a scary thing,” said the Indian pupil, 17.
“I would not worry about university spots as I have good grades."
Pakistan Super League
Previous winners
2016 Islamabad United
2017 Peshawar Zalmi
2018 Islamabad United
2019 Quetta Gladiators
Most runs Kamran Akmal – 1,286
Most wickets Wahab Riaz –65
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
The specs: Volvo XC40
Price: base / as tested: Dh185,000
Engine: 2.0-litre, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 250hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 350Nm @ 1,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.4L / 100km
The specs: 2019 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
Price, base: Dh1.2 million
Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 725hp @ 6,500pm
Torque: 900Nm @ 1,800rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.3L / 100km (estimate)
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
CREW
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Yuval Noah Harari, Jonathan Cape
HOW%20TO%20ACTIVATE%20THE%20GEMINI%20SHORTCUT%20ON%20CHROME%20CANARY
%3Cp%3E1.%20Go%20to%20%3Cstrong%3Echrome%3A%2F%2Fflags%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E2.%20Find%20and%20enable%20%3Cstrong%3EExpansion%20pack%20for%20the%20Site%20Search%20starter%20pack%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E3.%20Restart%20Chrome%20Canary%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E4.%20Go%20to%20%3Cstrong%3Echrome%3A%2F%2Fsettings%2FsearchEngines%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20in%20the%20address%20bar%20and%20find%20the%20%3Cstrong%3EChat%20with%20Gemini%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20shortcut%20under%20%3Cstrong%3ESite%20Search%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E5.%20Open%20a%20new%20tab%20and%20type%20%40%20to%20see%20the%20Chat%20with%20Gemini%20shortcut%20along%20with%20other%20Omnibox%20shortcuts%20to%20search%20tabs%2C%20history%20and%20bookmarks%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Afro%20salons
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFor%20women%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESisu%20Hair%20Salon%2C%20Jumeirah%201%2C%20Dubai%3Cbr%3EBoho%20Salon%2C%20Al%20Barsha%20South%2C%20Dubai%3Cbr%3EMoonlight%2C%20Al%20Falah%20Street%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFor%20men%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMK%20Barbershop%2C%20Dar%20Al%20Wasl%20Mall%2C%20Dubai%3Cbr%3ERegency%20Saloon%2C%20Al%20Zahiyah%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3EUptown%20Barbershop%2C%20Al%20Nasseriya%2C%20Sharjah%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey'
Rating: 3/5
Directors: Ramin Bahrani, Debbie Allen, Hanelle Culpepper, Guillermo Navarro
Writers: Walter Mosley
Stars: Samuel L Jackson, Dominique Fishback, Walton Goggins
More on Quran memorisation:
if you go
The flights
Fly to Rome with Etihad (www.etihad.ae) or Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dh2,480 return including taxes. The flight takes six hours. Fly from Rome to Trapani with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Dh420 return including taxes. The flight takes one hour 10 minutes.
The hotels
The author recommends the following hotels for this itinerary. In Trapani, Ai Lumi (www.ailumi.it); in Marsala, Viacolvento (www.viacolventomarsala.it); and in Marsala Del Vallo, the Meliaresort Dimore Storiche (www.meliaresort.it).
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
'Morbius'
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Stars: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona
Rating: 2/5