Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed offered pupils and teachers his best wishes on the eve of the start of the new school year.<br/> "We hope this new academic year will be defined by great achievements," the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces said on Saturday evening. "Our education system proved to be dynamic and resilient last year, and we are confident it will go from strength to strength. The safety and well-being of students remain our top priorities." Most pupils between 4 and 11 will be back <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/education/sheikh-mohammed-bin-rashid-looks-forward-to-safe-start-to-school-year-for-a-million-pupils-1.1068136">in class</a> for the start of the school year on Sunday. Pupils attending private schools <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/education/pupils-in-sharjah-private-schools-to-continue-with-distance-learning-for-two-weeks-1.1068349">in Sharjah</a> will continue with distance learning for the first two weeks of the new term. Universities across the UAE will partially reopen while still offering classes online for any students who do not need to be on campus. The head of Dubai's <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/coronavirus-khda-chief-urges-dubai-parents-and-pupils-to-focus-on-the-positives-ahead-of-reopenings-1.1069616">Knowledge and Human Development Authority</a> urged parents and pupils to focus on the positives.