All school levels in the UAE will shift to remote learning in the first two weeks of January 2022 amid the threat of the Omicron variant.
In a press briefing on Tuesday night, Hazza Al Mansouri, Official Spokesman for the Education Sector, said the temporary shift to remote learning will begin on January 3.
This applies to schools, universities, and training centers across the emirates.
Meanwhile, university courses that need practical activities, and laboratories and clinical exercises will be subject to hybrid learning systems. Those attending in-person trainings will be required to provide negative PCR tests results (taken within 96 hours).
The Green Pass System will be applicable to the entry of parents into educational facilities.
Al Mansouri stressed that the country is constantly monitoring recent developments related to the global health crisis, to facilitate the safe return to in-person classes.
It is not immediately clear if the shift to online classes applies to both public and private schools, and supersedes earlier announcements made by educational agencies of each emirate.
Dubai’s KHDA tweeted: “Regular face-to-face education in Dubai private schools will continue in the 2nd semester while collective classroom & extracurricular activities will be discontinued. Canteens will close for the first 2 weeks of the semester & gatherings & school trips will be suspended.”
