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Schools in Abu Dhabi are finding ways to offer extra support for pupils who have fallen behind in their studies after almost a year of online learning.
Head teachers in the emirate said that since classrooms have reopened, they wanted to address any difficulties pupils may be having now to avoid significant learning gaps in future.
Sharmila Sarfraz, head of the Hindi department at Gems United Indian School, said teachers volunteered to organise extra classes after school or at the weekend for struggling pupils.
“Pupils who needed extra support, children who had recently enrolled at the school, or those who needed to repeat a certain part of the syllabus, and high achievers were all able to access extra classes, Ms Sarfraz said.
Undergraduate students at New York University pay close to $50,000 in tuition annually.
Lara, who hopes to work in health and nutrition in the future, said
the campus experience was a big part of what students were looking for.
“I like NYUAD a lot, and it has great transfer-abroad opportunities, she said.
The teenager grew up in Australia and considered returning for higher studies, but decided to stay closer to home.
“The pandemic was one of the primary reasons. My brothers have been in Australia since the beginning of Covid-19 and we have not been able to meet,” she said.
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School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
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Head teachers have urged older pupils to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to help to make the UAE s schools a safe environment.
On Sunday, the Ministry of Health and Prevention approved the use of the coronavirus vaccine for teenagers aged 16 and above.
Previously, anyone under the age of 18 was not allowed to be inoculated against the virus.
It is understood that teenagers
will receive the Sinopharm vaccine, which is one of
two
approved by authorities in the Emirates.
The drug was approved for nationwide use on December 9. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was first administered in Dubai two weeks later. Free and voluntary vaccination campaigns are under way for both.
Sonika Jain, a 44-year-old Indian banker, said she
already planned for her children to learn from home this term.
and 11
introduced distance learning.
“We chose online learning as the number of cases in the UAE has been on the rise, said Ms Jain.
“I am worried to send them back as cases are over 3,000 every day.
It is difficult for the children, but this is for their safety and ours
Nihal E
She said she taught her children to be independent and cook so they could take care of themselves while she was at work.
“My son has online classes to prepare