Fears Loom as Schools Prepare for Reopening

The Ministry of Health had informed the media that they were working on a unified Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) plan to tackle the spread of infection as millions of students start returning to the region’s schools after spending their summer vacation in different parts of the world.

As part of the plan school authorities will be trained to tackle the situation and monitor students for symptoms
of the flu.

However, schools have not received any instructions on a plan that needs to be followed and many have devised their own programs to ensure the safety of students and staff when they return.

Anse Fanning, who is part of an administration team at an international school in Dubai said, “Our school has recently appointed teachers from other countries and they have joined as well as those who have returned from their vacation. So I’m worried that in the absence of any measure I could be susceptible. Before the school closed for the summer break we were given handouts that informed about hygiene but that was it.” Her children study at a school in Sharjah and she believes that some schools will adopt prevention programs but others might ignore them if authorities do not enforce a rule.

“There needs to be a dedicated team in each school that will ensure that students are safe,” she said.

Schools have not been instructed to follow a certain protocol when they resume in a few days but have begun preparing their medical staff to deal with the inflow of students when the academic year commences.

The GEMS group has set up its own swine flu team that comprises of senior management staff. “Their aim is to develop a strategy to keep our parents informed and our students protected to the best of our ability. We are developing material and are looking to train our medical staff in each school so that they can help support other staff in helping them identify potential flu cases,” said Richard Forbes, director of communications and marketing.

He said at that the group is seeking advice from the departments of education and health to adhere to a government policy that will be laid down.

Ali Mohammad Rafi, whose children study in Westminister School in Dubai, has sent a letter to the Ministry of Education and the school asking them to step up their preparations to combat the flu. “Schools will reopen in 10 days and I want to know what is planned to ensure our children are safe. We do not know yet how the schools will be ensuring that the disease does not spread. A lot of parents have raised this concern as many pupils who travelled out of the country are now returning,” he said.

Another parent, who did not wish to be named, believed authorities must lay down protocols, including screening processes when students return, and make sure schools follow the rules.

“Screening at the airport may not be sufficient. A case could go undetected and returning students and staff could be carriers,” she said.

Some schools have communicated influenza policies through their web sites and newsletters and at least one school has decided to screen all students at the start of the academic year.

afshan@khaleejtimes.ae