UAE weather Dubai rain chaos latest: KHDA confirms all Dubai schools remain closed until Friday 19 April
UPDATE 17.4.24:
The Dubai government has announced that Dubai private schools will remain closed and on remote learning for the rest of the week until Friday 19 April.
Government of #Dubai extends remote learning for private schools through Thursday and Friday, April 18 and 19. pic.twitter.com/BfQ47LuVej
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 17, 2024
This has been confirmed by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), which regulates Dubai schools. It stated on its social media channels:
“Keeping in mind the safety of students and staff, all Dubai private schools, nurseries, and universities must continue to offer distance learning on April 18 & 19. Stay safe everyone.”
This news follows earlier communication that all Dubai schools must remain closed and offer remote learning on Wednesday 17 April due to the unstable UAE weather. The authority stated on its social media channels on Tuesday 16 April:
“In light of prevailing weather conditions and keeping in mind the safety of students and staff, Dubai private schools, nurseries, and universities must continue to offer distance learning on Wednesday, April 17. Stay safe everyone.”
In light of prevailing weather conditions and keeping in mind the safety of students and staff, Dubai private schools, nurseries, and universities must continue to offer distance learning on Wednesday, April 17. Stay safe everyone. ☂️
— KHDA | هيئة المعرفة والتنمية البشرية بدبي (@KHDA) April 16, 2024
GEMS Education had already decided to close all of its network of schools in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and all across the UAE on Wednesday 17 April 2024, due to the unstable UAE weather. Zafar Raja, Group Chief Operating Officer, GEMS Education, told SchoolsCompared:
“Given the severity of the weather conditions across the UAE today and in the interests of the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff, we have made the decision to extend remote learning across the GEMS Education network.
“All our schools will therefore remain closed on Wednesday 17 April, with students continuing to learn from home. Our families have been informed and will be kept updated through our usual channels.”
The UAE experienced a night of severe weather on Tuesday 16 April, including thunder, lightning, rain and the possibility of hail. The National Centre for Meteorology issued a red alert, which is the highest warning level, for the country, warning of extremely hazardous conditions.
Although the UAE weather is expected to have calmed down by Wednesday morning, there is the risk of storm damage to school buildings, which will need to be made fully secure before pupils can safely return. For example Brighton College Dubai has suffered rain damage to some of its classrooms, which the school says is swiftly being repaired and restored so that students can return safely when schools go back to in-person learning.
Storm damage at Brighton College Dubai
A spokesperson for Brighton College Dubai said:
“Our amazing facilities team has been working tirelessly all day to try and offset, minimise and repair the damage.”
However, some schools have not had to face any disruption due to the UAE weather at all, says Tahoora Urehman, Head of Middle East and South East Asia at King’s InterHigh:
“At King’s InterHigh the weather never disrupts our school day, after all, we are an online school and have been for eighteen years.
“Unlike remote learning that’s often hastily arranged in response to unforeseen circumstances, King’s InterHigh is purpose built with the intent to deliver a comprehensive, engaging, and high-quality educational experience that’s fully online.
“Our teachers are not only experts in their subject areas but are also trained specifically for online teaching, ensuring that each lesson is designed to maximise student engagement and learning outcomes in a virtual environment. This means that our curriculum isn’t a quick fix or a temporary solution; it’s a carefully crafted educational journey that leverages the best of technology to bring learning to life, regardless of where our students are in the world.”
How UAE schools are making the most of the rain
While the unstable UAE weather might halt face-to-face school, it doesn’t mean learning has to stop. Schools have been finding the unique teaching opportunities and turning them to their advantage during the inclement weather.
At Dubai International Academy (DIS) Emirates Hills, one teacher used the wet weather to create a memorable instruction video for a PE lesson:
View this post on Instagram
Rain can be a chance to inspire children and teach them about climate and the environment, says Sarah O’Regan, Principal/CEO GEMS Wellington Academy – Silicon Oasis:
“Rainy days can be fantastic impromptu outdoor learning opportunities. In the past, I used the rainfall to delve into cloud formation and rainfall measurement with my students. We did cloud cover comparisons and set up a rain gauge outside and discussed the different types of clouds that bring rain. It was a fun and engaging way to connect the classroom with what they were experiencing outside. These opportune lessons can enhance student engagement and make learning more memorable.”
Arbor School also uses rainy days as an opportunity to enhance learning, says Principal Brett Girven:
“Significant events like Rainy days in Dubai always provide Provocation for teachers to engage with climate and the environment and weather. For our students, rainy days are certainly days of excitement!
“At Arbor we already have initiatives like “Wet Wednesdays” and “Muddy Mondays” in primary school – So we don’t wait for the rain to come in order to celebrate getting wet and muddy!
“In the Secondary School, along with ecoliteracy and global impact lessons embedded in the curriculum, rainy days at Arbor School are utilized for online lessons in an uninterrupted manner.”
© SchoolsCompared.com. A WhichMedia Group publication. 2024 – 2025. All rights reserved.
Leave a Response