Dubai: Thousands of eager pupils returned to school on the first day yesterday (Sunday) after a long summer break.
Most schools said they registered more than 90 per cent attendance with children showing great excitement and joy in returning to school.
“We had around 98 per cent attendance today, which is really good for day one. It was so nice to see jubilant pupils. We had a fantastic morning assembly today, where the pupils volunteered to come on stage and expressed their feelings on being back-to-school,” said an elated Chitra Sharma, Principal of JSS Private School, Dubai.
She said the school has also lined up some surprises for the pupils just to ease them into academic mode.
“We have an orientation programme for new pupils and their parents this week and we are also taking around 500 pupils to an educational exhibition at Meydan on September 13,” Sharma said.
Many schools have used the summer break to renovate buildings, introduce new programmes or make other infrastructural changes.
“We have made several infrastructural changes in the school, new block with more resource rooms. We have completely split in two the facilities for boys and girls and we were eager to have the children back.
“It was really overwhelming to have them back today. They bring the real colour, it was as if the school came alive again,” said Vandana Marwah, Principal of Delhi Private School, Sharjah.
A majority of 1,276 public and private schools across the country opened for the new academic year yesterday, but a few schools had reopened last week and a few are opening in the next couple of days.
Robin Appleby, Superintendent of Dubai American Academy, which started the new academic year last week said that the reopening has been smooth and exciting.
“It’s always nice to have the kids back. The attendance has been very high and the new academic year is already up and running,” said Appleby.
Bubbling with energy, pupils admitted that they were actually bored after a long break and were looking forward to going to school.
“First day of school is the most enjoyable day, and I would do anything not to miss it. There was so much of catching up to do and I happy to be among the friends again,” said Jhanvi Bhatia, a Grade 10 pupil of Delhi Private School Dubai.
Echoing Jhanvi was Emily Francis, who said that first day of school is always fun. “It’s more about catching up and socialising. There is not much schooling on the first day so it’s nice. It’s just so good to be back.”
Nearly 727,918 pupils returned to classrooms on Sunday for the 2012-2013 academic year.
Some 785 government schools welcomed 269,412 pupils while 458,508 pupils joined 491 private schools.
A total of 29,332 teachers, technicians and administrators have already reported to work last Sunday.
On the occasion, the Minister of Education, Humaid Mohammad Al Qatami, urged educators, administrators, pupils and guardians to work diligently and faithfully so as to elevate the learning process and deliver the state’s strategic objectives for education.
With inputs from Nada Al Taher, Staff Reporter.
