![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4DG2UA3V2DLR37SO2YVG5ZES4A.jpg?smart=true&auth=3ce96962350e2f57ed7ff5cbcfc15d1514cc4157f8f359c3203ef5f400ab38fd&width=400&height=225)
A teacher wears a face shield to stay safe.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3OZ54B25JLRI3MAVFC6ECWM5M4.jpg?smart=true&auth=baab41c9d2f769d2e95612db1b8972542dbd84842921d31f985f59a290cc2539&width=400&height=225)
Shatha Al Qadi, 15, is the only learner present in her Grade 10 class at Al Shola Private School on January 5. All photos by Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K7JECWR5IPTTRWEHN6K2UGYJ7A.jpg?smart=true&auth=e0f389f3d9c660fbeff2063f937748813a73251b40770bb94de6196dcc98d603&width=400&height=225)
Sharjah's Al Shola Private School has strong safety measures in place to protect pupils of all ages.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KOXGYFX7KFM7ZIW3GP2CM5JZXE.jpg?smart=true&auth=e5caeaf2436ca4a37789fc1684533a33ef679894ba58fe804dad8a10c85b5d99&width=400&height=225)
Class sizes at the school have been capped to 12 in line with social distancing measures.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JNOXEDZ55PAMM4DNQIPJ4XNONA.jpg?smart=true&auth=090467e379ba01b5c9b8c0ec11c2a1ae81666b0ddac6ad77696a738f44acaca3&width=400&height=225)
A child during a lesson. Just 97 of 647 pupils in grades 9 to 12 opted to return to their seats at Al Shola Private School.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V6RU3O5N6AXXEPUINMDDKIFPVU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c2887269b97800449d8bccf060fbbad3459ea17f0802ecb494b32389a508c10c&width=400&height=225)
According to statistics from the school, 42 per cent pupils attend classes in school from grades 1 to 4, with this figure dropping to 28 per cent for grades 5 to 8.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R3KLNZMITPH5JJAYBD4I4JJATU.jpg?smart=true&auth=30a2ac033d3247ef412f11964b12c42a5237112dccca1a79b950d33c8812e905&width=400&height=225)
Ibraheem Barakeh of Al Shola Schools Group says ongoing concerns over catching the virus are a key factor in the high number of pupils opting to learn online.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4DG2UA3V2DLR37SO2YVG5ZES4A.jpg?smart=true&auth=3ce96962350e2f57ed7ff5cbcfc15d1514cc4157f8f359c3203ef5f400ab38fd&width=400&height=225)
A teacher wears a face shield to stay safe.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3OZ54B25JLRI3MAVFC6ECWM5M4.jpg?smart=true&auth=baab41c9d2f769d2e95612db1b8972542dbd84842921d31f985f59a290cc2539&width=400&height=225)
Shatha Al Qadi, 15, is the only learner present in her Grade 10 class at Al Shola Private School on January 5. All photos by Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K7JECWR5IPTTRWEHN6K2UGYJ7A.jpg?smart=true&auth=e0f389f3d9c660fbeff2063f937748813a73251b40770bb94de6196dcc98d603&width=400&height=225)
Sharjah's Al Shola Private School has strong safety measures in place to protect pupils of all ages.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KOXGYFX7KFM7ZIW3GP2CM5JZXE.jpg?smart=true&auth=e5caeaf2436ca4a37789fc1684533a33ef679894ba58fe804dad8a10c85b5d99&width=400&height=225)
Class sizes at the school have been capped to 12 in line with social distancing measures.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JNOXEDZ55PAMM4DNQIPJ4XNONA.jpg?smart=true&auth=090467e379ba01b5c9b8c0ec11c2a1ae81666b0ddac6ad77696a738f44acaca3&width=400&height=225)
A child during a lesson. Just 97 of 647 pupils in grades 9 to 12 opted to return to their seats at Al Shola Private School.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V6RU3O5N6AXXEPUINMDDKIFPVU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c2887269b97800449d8bccf060fbbad3459ea17f0802ecb494b32389a508c10c&width=400&height=225)
According to statistics from the school, 42 per cent pupils attend classes in school from grades 1 to 4, with this figure dropping to 28 per cent for grades 5 to 8.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R3KLNZMITPH5JJAYBD4I4JJATU.jpg?smart=true&auth=30a2ac033d3247ef412f11964b12c42a5237112dccca1a79b950d33c8812e905&width=400&height=225)
Ibraheem Barakeh of Al Shola Schools Group says ongoing concerns over catching the virus are a key factor in the high number of pupils opting to learn online.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4DG2UA3V2DLR37SO2YVG5ZES4A.jpg?smart=true&auth=3ce96962350e2f57ed7ff5cbcfc15d1514cc4157f8f359c3203ef5f400ab38fd&width=400&height=225)
A teacher wears a face shield to stay safe.
PCR tests for pupils as Sharjah schools begin to reopen on April 11
Private schools open this Sunday and ministry curriculum schools on April 18
![Anam Rizvi](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F87bb1498-1e45-493f-9f35-cbae78f6f52b.png?smart=true&auth=fa4172315f8e7009403787975bfcf9a11521dcd852ffd3bf8362a1112a39a830&width=70&height=70)
Anam Rizvi
07 April, 2021
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