Sharjah private schools reopen under strict COVID-19 guidelines
All students aged 12 years and above are required to present a negative PCR result in order to enter educational institutions at the beginning of the 2021-2022 academic year, Spea said in a circular issued to private schools. Image Credit: Gulf News Archives

Sharjah: All school employees and students aged 12 years and above are required to present a negative PCR result “to enter the educational institution facilities at the beginning of academic year 2021-2022”, the Sharjah Private Education Authority (Spea) said in a circular sent to private school principals in the emirate.

Spea’s Circular No (44) of 2021, pertaining to Return to School Procedures 2021-2022, also stated: “All employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (at least two doses) in order to enter the educational institutions, except for those excluded from vaccination with an approved medical report. Those excluded from vaccination are obligated to perform a PCR examination on a weekly basis,” it added.

Two-month exemption

New employees from abroad who don’t enter the country vaccinated are exempt for a period of two months, in order to obtain at least two doses of the vaccine within that period. They must provide a negative PCR test report on a weekly basis.

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Support UAE’s efforts

Meanwhile, students are currently not required to have the vaccine to enter schools. A negative PCR test at the beginning of the academic year is a must, but Spea encourages parents to vaccinate their children in support of the UAE’s efforts to keep everyone safe.