Abu Dhabi/Dubai: Some parents slammed the decision to close schools on Thursday, saying it was an overreaction and disrupted their routine.
Students around the UAE were sent home from school on Thursday morning as a safety measure following the heavy rain and wind that lashed the country.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Education, public and private schools were directed to close at 10am. Ali Mihad Al Suwaidi, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry, said that pupils’ safety was the ministry’s priority.
The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) also issued a statement that read: “Due to extreme weather conditions the KHDA has advised all schools and nurseries in Dubai to close for the day to ensure children get home safely.”
The move followed the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology’s (NCMS) warning about the unstable weather.
Jordanian mother-of-three, Mai Al Khatib, was one of the parents who believed that pupils should not have been sent home.
“The school sent parents text messages to pick up our children. I think that it is not necessary, especially as it is the examination period because like always, after the rain the sky clears and the sun is out. There is no need to panic.”
A Palestinian mother-of-two, Manal Al Jameel, said that getting permission to leave work to pick up her children was difficult.
“We are currently understaffed so I was put in a difficult position when I had to go and ask my boss for permission to leave. Of course my children’s safety is above everything but I hope that the forecast was true.”
However, Lebanese Carole Chachati, another parent who had to leave work to pick up her three children, supported the move to close schools believing that it is better to be safe than sorry.
“If the NCMS warning actually happens then it is important that my children are home safe. Last year when the school called me to pick them up due to emergency weather it took me two hours to reach them, so I would rather pick them up as a precautionary measure to reach them as soon as possible.”
In Abu Dhabi, students in the capital were sent home as early as 8:45am due to the heavy rain seen in different parts of the city.
The Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) required all public and private schools in Abu Dhabi to close schools before 12:00pm for expected instability in weather conditions.
ADEC requested all school managements to communicate with parents to coordinate the receipt of their children either from school or at home. Schools were asked to coordinate with the Emirates Transport to ensure the safe transportation of students to their home. If parents are unable to receive students at the time specified above, students shall stay under the supervision of the school until received by parents.
“The ground-level classes were all flooded so we left school at around 8:45 am” said Grade 12 private-school student Haneen Al Noman.
Exams for adult centres and homeschooling students due to take place today have been postponed to Wednesday December 4, the ADEC added.
Schools are requested to identify damages caused by rain and notify ADEC in order to fix such damages in line with ADEC and Musanda’s criteria. Musanada will check power outlets and rain drainage systems in schools, clean slippery surfaces, remove debris, and dismantle unstable structures safely.
