Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, has lauded the UAE’s teachers for inspiring young learners.
On World Teachers’ Day, Sheikh Mohamed paid tribute to teaching staff who are helping to unlock the potential of the next generation and rising to the challenge of schooling children in a pandemic.
The education sector faced major disruption as the coronavirus spread around the globe.
Schools were quick to close their doors and switch to remote learning, with teachers embracing the new tools of technology to ensure pupils did not miss out on their education.
“On World Teachers’ Day we express our gratitude to educators throughout the UAE for inspiring our young people and preparing them for the future,” Sheikh Mohamed said on Twitter.
“We also commend our teachers for the adaptability they have shown in response to the ongoing challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The new academic year has brought cautious optimism for the future as pupils return to classrooms in large numbers.
Private schools in Dubai have ended distance learning – bar those who are exempt from in-person lessons.
The return of children to class has brought joy and relief to parents, pupils and teachers alike.
Back to school joy
-
Pupils arriving on the first day back of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. Nearly 13,000 pupils went back for in-person classes across three campuses. All photos: Ruel Pableo for The National -
Pupils arriving on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. Close to 95 per cent of these pupils were returning to in-person schooling for the first time in 18 months. -
Pupils arriving on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. Pupils were excited to meet their friends and teachers again. -
Pupils go through the proper sanitation protocol on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Pupils queuing to enter their classrooms on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Pupils arriving in school buses on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Pupils queuing to enter their classrooms on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Pupils arriving on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Pupils arriving on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Pupils queuing to enter their classrooms on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Pupils queuing to enter their classrooms on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Teacher Usha Devi on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Students on their first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Punit MK Vasu, chief executive of the Indian High School, on the first day of in-person learning. -
Pupils listen to their teacher on their first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Priyal Babariya was one of the pupils to attend on the first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. -
Sian Shinjo, a 10th grader at the school, said: 'I am a bit nervous as everything has changed a lot. I am sure it will be safe, and the school has kept us informed.' -
Rohi Ilyas, a mother-of-two and an entrepreneur, said her children had studied at home for 18 months. -
Utkarsh Chaube, father of a 13-year-old pupil at the Indian High School, said his son spent about 10 to 12 hours in a day in front of a screen when studying remotely. -
Pupils on their first day of in-person learning at the Indian High School. -
Sathya Lakshmi, 15, said seeing everyone back together was the most special part of returning to in-person classes. -
Uma Madhumohan, whose daughter Tejasvi is a 10th grader at the school, said her daughter was excited to get back to learning. -
'I am on cloud nine. It’s been one-and-a-half-years since I have been on campus for in-person classes and I have missed it and my friends terribly,' said Nehan Naseem Ali, 12. -
Pupils back at work inside the classroom. -
'Having the pupils back is unbelievable. I feel ecstatic,' said Punit MK Vasu, chief executive of the Indian High School. -
Indian High school -
At the Indian International School, children and teachers danced to the beat of the dhol, a traditional Indian percussion instrument.
About 13,000 pupils attended the school’s three campuses on Sunday.
Close to 95 per cent of those children had returned to in-person lessons for the first time in 18 months and they were excited to catch up with friends and teachers.
Most pupils in Abu Dhabi have also returned to physical lessons.
World Teachers’ Day is held on October 5 annually and was introduced by Unesco in 1994.
This year, it will focus on the role teachers played in leading the recovery from the pandemic.
A series of events will be held under the theme “Teachers at the heart of education recovery”.
