Back to School: Face masks, keeping a metre distance from students must for teachers in classrooms

Mohamed Ibrahim, Staff Reporter

The Ministry of Education has identified some of the most importan measures to ensure the safety of the environment in educational facilities for the 2021-2022 school year, which is scheduled to start on August 29, for students in all stages of education in the various emirates of the country.

The procedures focused on developing an operational plan so the educational facilities ready for a safe return with the formation of work teams.

The authorities said that teachers will have to wear facemasks all the time in classrooms.

They are advised to stay at least a metre away from students at school.

The management should ensure that there is sufficient ventilation when using cleaning and sterilisation products to prevent the leakage of toxic fumes, the operation of air conditioning systems, the increase in the circulation of the outside air as much as possible, the installation of plastic barriers in areas where it is difficult to maintain the approved distance, and ensuring the tracking of hand washing for students in the early stages.

Educational tools and devices used by students and teachers should be sterilised periodically, in addition to developing a mechanism for cleaning toilets after each use, and cleaning and sterilising educational facilities and classrooms.

Social distancing

The guide recommended placing signs indicating the spot for lining up, preferably outside, as well as the movement paths, and hand washing basins available to maintain space. The use of air dryers is prohibited, as it may transmit diseases.

Educational staff and security and safety officers should be trained to supervise sterilisation operations, which target laboratories, learning resources, student dormitories, and workers attached to educational facilities.

Canteen rules

The Ministry has developed three programmes that include procedures and controls for healthy nutrition in canteens. It has granted senior students, which includes grades from the ninth to the twelfth, the authority to go to the canteen while adhering to social distancing, distributing students into groups, and increasing the number of outlets to avoid crowding.

It has allowed students to bring healthy food from home, warning them not to share it with others, and obligating them to wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before eating.

Criteria

The criteria were established for the use of library resources, as students must enter the libraries in different groups and maintain distance.
It is mandatory to sterilise library rooms after each visit under the supervision of the teachers.