The excitement of being Back to School after a long vacation was evident among pupils who began their academic year yesterday.

With glowing faces, heavy school bags on their shoulders, sporting new school uniforms, the pupils filled their classrooms and playgrounds with fun and laughter, exchanging stories about their holidays.

They told Gulf News of how they longed to be back at school amid the hustle and bustle of not missing the school bus and getting to school on time. During their holidays, they had looked forward to wearing a new school uniform, the thrill of a sports day and the final nerve-wrecking days of examinations.

Hardip Nagra, a class 11 pupil in the commerce section, Indian High School, Dubai, who got up at 3.30am to prepare for her first day at school after the vacation, said: "I am so happy to be back at school, having fun in my vacation. I got up early and ironed my uniform, packed my books and gave an extra shine to my shoes".

Tina Ranganathan, also a pupil of the Indian High School, Dubai, said: "I am happy to be back. For me the excitement began once I got into the classroom. It was so much fun. But carrying the heavy school bag was a pain," she said.

The Principal of the Indian High School, Ashok Kumar, said: "The administrative department was working throughout the vacation to give a face-lift to the classrooms. We have also renovated our chemistry labs and done repair work.

"There was a heavy rush for admissions to all classes during the summer vacation.

Primary schoolers clasp hands as they finish their first day at school at the Kindergarten Starters in Dubai. ©Gulf News.
We do regret that we could not accommodate all the pupils. The school has 8,200 pupils, and we have had 95 per cent attendance on the very first day," he said.

More than 350 students began the new academic year at the Bangladesh Islamic English School, Dubai, yesterday. Fifty of them are new pupils.

The school, located in Deira, follows Bangladeshi, Indian and British syllabi and has a good mix of students from among South Asian communities.

Misbah-Ul-Hasnain, the Principal of the Pakistan Education Academy in Dubai, summed up the first day of school as extremely busy and unpredictable. "We have more than 900 girls and more than 550 boys. Preparing for the new academic year is always hectic."

It was not only the first day at school for the pupils of the Varkey International Private school in Dubai but for their principal, Aziz Akhtar, as well.

"We are in the second term and it is always fun to be back after a vacation. Our school works in two shifts. The morning shift had 90 per cent attendance. We began our preparations for the new academic term 20 days prior to the opening of the school," he said.

The United International Private School, the only Filipino school in Dubai, which began its new academic year at new premises, had full attendance on the first day.

The Assistant Manager, Latecia Samuel, said: "All our classes were full. Our pupils were very excited over their new school premises, because we are the only Filipino school to have a proper school building. All others are in villas. This year the school has a hundred new pupils enrolled. The school has more than 700 pupils."

Fawziya Mohammed Feras, Principal of the Jumeirah Model School, said: "We distributed ice cream to all our 400 pupils after breakfast. We invited the Dubai Summer Surprises mascot Modhesh to the school this week to share with our students the joy of beginning a new academic year."

A six-year-old student, Jasim Mohammed, was excited about attending school for the first time. Amina Zaki, his mother, said: "This is the first school year for Jasim."

Linda Abdulla, an 18-year-old from Al Suffouh Secondary Public School in Dubai, said: "I spent my summer vacation in London. I am very excited about starting school again, especially as this is my final year and will be able to meet my friends again."

Safiyya Obaid, a UAE National teaching Arabic in Al Suffouh Secondary Public School in Dubai, said: "I have been teaching for 14 years and noticed that usually pupils are bored and sleepy in the first week of their new academic year.

"This is because they are coming back from their vacation, so the teachers try and have a simple start for their academic year."


Misbah-Ul-Hasnain
A teacher from Rashid Al Saleh Private School in Dubai, Yasmin Ali, said: "Usually on the first day at school there is a bit of confusion, as the kids are shown their classrooms, seats and the buses they have to take."

Ahmed Sultan, a UAE national and father of two, said: "It took more than two weeks to prepare for our children's return to school.

"My wife is working, but she took 10 days leave to be able to take care of our two children in their first week at school, especially as our younger son has just entered first grade."

The first school day after the summer break in Ras Al Khaimah went off smoothly, with all schools reporting no untoward problem.

Adel Al Mutawa, who heads the administrative department at the emirate's educational zone, said some schools in the remote regions may still have to put up with the presence of maintenance equipment, which is being dismantled, but will will be removed soon.

Ras Al Khaimah educational zone issued a circular yesterday stating that in reference to the ministerial decision banning expatriates from studying at public schools, the zone will cancel all files of students who have registered for grade one, before the decision was taken.

The zone, which has been facing a shortage of text books, especially for grade one, has called on all schools with extra copies to send them to the zone.