KG 1-Grade 5 & Grade 12 students  return to in-person classes from January 24 while all students return on January 31 

Abu Dhabi, Jan 20, 2022: The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has announced new updates for the gradual return to face-to-face learning for private and charter school students. 

ADEK released the updates following the announcement of the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee for the COVID-19 Pandemic on the gradual return to in-classroom learning model.

Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee has approved the gradual return to in-classroom learning for students at public and private schools, universities, colleges and training institutes in the emirate, as of Monday, 24 January, 2022. pic.twitter.com/8qK8n2Ug3y

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All students in KG 1 until grade 5 and students in grade 12 will be permitted to return to school from January 24. Students who are studying for international exams will also be permitted to return to school to ensure continuity of learning and preparedness. Students will be permitted on campus to resume face-to-face learning while adhering to the stringent school health and safety precautionary measures.

All other students will continue distance learning until January 31 when they can resume in-classroom learning.

ADEK also confirmed that the option for distance learning will remain in place throughout the term; however, parents are required to inform their child’s school of their preference to continue distance learning or return to physical school for the week starting January 31. 

All external school trips and activities will be suspended until further notice, while sports and cultural activities will be permitted in full adherence to health and safety precautionary measures. 

Students, teachers and school staff who have recently returned from overseas travel will be required to sign a travel declaration form, with those returning to the UAE within two weeks of their entry to school required to submit negative PCR test results taken on day one and day six from their return date. All students, teachers and employees must present a 96-hour negative PCR test result before returning to campus.

To ensure a safe return to school in 2022, all private and charter school students aged three years and above regardless of vaccination status and inclusive of Students of Determination must produce a negative nasal PCR or saliva test result valid for 96 hours before resuming in-person classes, whether on the fourth or fifth week. The same procedure applies to teachers, administrative staff and third-party contractors.

Abu Dhabi teachers and administrative staff can receive free-of-charge pre-return to school tests at designated centres. 

In addition to the pre-examinations for returning to schools, all students  below 16 years of age regardless of their vaccination status, vaccinated and exempted students aged 16 and above as well as teachers and school staff will continue to undergo routine in-school PCR testing to maintain a 14-day test validity throughout the new term.