UAE’s Ministry of Education has announced that distance learning for all schools and universities will continue until the end of the current academic year.
The state-run news agency WAM said studies would continue online for students in all public and private schools and universities until the end of the 2019-2020 academic year.
Under the directives of the #UAE Cabinet, the implementation of the distance learning system will continue throughout the 2019-2020 academic year at all private & public schools and higher education institutions in the UAE.
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 30, 2020
The UAE had already closed all public and private schools, universities and nurseries across the country for four weeks starting from March 8 as a precautionary measure against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr. Amna Al-Dahhak, spokesperson for the Ministry of Education (MoE) said: “The decision comes with the aim of ensuring the continuity of education in the country under exceptional circumstances, while maintaining the security and safety of our students and the school community.”
Examination Preparations:
With many students preparing to sit exams, The Ministry confirmed that it’s “working on a methodology, which includes the application of evaluation mechanisms and exams for the remainder of the current academic year 2019-2020 in a way that is in the interest of students.”
With regards to the examinations the ministry hasn’t yet confirmed its plans, though Dr Amna said, “The evaluation and examination mechanisms are currently being updated and developed for all educational systems in the country for the current academic year.”
The Smartest Solution in Effect:
The ministry said that it would add smart applications and solutions for the educational system such as the Alef platform and Alex platform specialising in mathematics for the upper levels, the Matvak platform for early childhood stages, and the Nahla and Nahil platform specialised in raising Arabic reading skills.
UAE telecom regulator Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has also shared a list of additional applications to facilitate distance learning programmes across the country, it announced on March 30.
The spokesperson added that the MoE has rescheduled the study plan on the basis of a questionnaire it sent to over 185,000 students and parents and which will be activated beginning from next Wednesday, April 8.
“The Ministry of Education regularly organizes counseling sessions for parents about the applications used in the distance education system to enable them to support their children during the coming period. Our responsibility today as parents is to provide the appropriate educational environment for our children at home, and to encourage them to commit to and continue their distance education,” said Dr Amna.
