In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the UAE mandated distance learning for students of all ages last March, with students in some grades and schools finally returning to classes in person in September 2020. More and more students have returned to school premises since then, but many others are still continuing to opt for full distance learning a year into the pandemic.

“This is why it was possible for schools to make a smooth shift to distance learning when the pandemic broke out. Our teachers also received professional development to help them ensure learning outcomes during distance learning, and we have received very few complaints about the system, whether it be public schools or private schools,” Al Hammadi said.

Al Hammadi also thanked parents, who had worked to assist educators and allocated time and effort to ensure the success of a blended learning system for students.

“We have had many learnings from this pandemic, and remote learning is one these systems. As we go forward, we want to protect students’ skills, both academic and extracurricular, even if the mode of learning is virtual,” he said.