Health authorities recommend a booster shot for teachers, support staff and students

Nov 16, Dubai: Schools and universities across the UAE will operate at 100 per cent capacity from January next year, it was announced. Masks and social distancing remain mandatory for students. The announcement was made at a media briefing on Tuesday.

Authorities recommended that all eligible teachers, support staff and students receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to gain protection from the new variants.

The decision was taken after it was observed that schools and colleges in the country had applied stringent measures to receive the students safe. “There has been a sharp drop in the number of daily cases in the country and it is safe for all students to return to the classroom in January — the beginning of the second term,” said Hazza Al Mansouri, spokesperson for the education sector in the UAE.

School buses can operate at 100 per cent capacity but must ensure staff and students on board wear masks and there is proper ventilation.

Only vaccinated students are allowed in university hostels. If student are not medically eligible to get vaccinated, they must get PCR tests every week.

Schools can host events while complying with preventive measures and also resume PE lessons at full capacity.

“All educational facilities at the state level will be monitored to ensure the application of precautionary and preventive measures by the competent authorities and in co-operation with the Ministry of Education,” added Al Mansouri.

In-person learning was suspended across all educational institutions in the UAE in March last year because of COVID-19. Dubai’s private schools ended distance learning on October 3, while schools in Sharjah are already operating at 100 per cent capacity.