Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has announced new precautionary policies that are to be followed when schools reopen for the new academic year.
From the new academic year, schools will operate in macrobubbles to reduce the risk, as well as reduce the shift to distance learning.
Bubbles for students in kindergarten and below grade 2/grade 3 have been increased from 10 students to 16 students.
Extracurricular activities will take place with physical distancing and while wearing face masks, along with schools completing a risk assessment.
Play areas will open along with canteens, where food must be served by designated staff in accordance with the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority regulations.
Physical education classes and sports will resume with special arrangements and based on risk assessment, with schools required to sanitise recreational areas and equipment between groups.
School sports facilities rented from external parties remain suspended.
From 20 August, students aged 16 and above need to be fully vaccinated to attend classes.
Verified vaccination certificates must be available when the student returns for in-person classes for the new academic year.
Students and school staff with vaccination exemptions can enter, as long as the exemption is verified on the Al Hosn app or through an official letter from the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi authorised vaccination providers such as SEHA or Mubadala Health.
Students turning 16 after the schools reopen and want to attend in-person classes can receive their first dose of the vaccine within four weeks of their birthday, with it displayed on the Al Hosn app.
ADEK along with the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Public Health Center, Mubadala Health and Yas Mall will host a pop-up vaccination centre from 3 August to 7 August and 24 August and 28 August.
University students, as well as students aged 12 and above, can receive their Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at the Yas Mall pop up centre.
Students aged 16 and above that have not been vaccinated can write their exams at school through special arrangements.
Educators and students aged 16 and above that are new will be given a grace period to receive their vaccinations and need to contact their respective schools for more information.
Social distancing will be reduced to one metre in classrooms and on school grounds.
Distance learning will remain an option for students with chronic illnesses, students aged 16 and above that are not vaccinated and students that would like to continue online.