UAE schools to begin on August 30, says Minister of Education

The UAE’s new academic year will start on August 30, the Minister of Education has announced.

Hussain Al Hammadi said administrative and teaching staff would begin work a week earlier on August 23.

It has not yet been established how lessons will be organized, although a mixture of remote learning and classroom teaching is one scenario.

Last week, an online meeting organized by the Education Business Group, a UAE association representing more than 100 private schools, discussed how the country could return more than 800,000 pupils to the classroom.

Experts urged authorities to look at easing regulations and support schools as they sought to return to normal operations.

Mr. Al Hammadi put the success of the nation’s remote learning programme, instigated due to the coronavirus pandemic, down to the “forward-thinking policy” of UAE leaders and the “commitment of students and their parents”.

“Education remains a top priority and national objective, and therefore our leadership has directed to apply the distance education system under the current circumstances so that our students won’t lose track and miss one single day from their academic year,” he said.