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Back to school in Dubai: Students return after a two-month summer break

The mood on campuses is euphoric, as pupils greet their friends, peers and teachers with visible enthusiasm

New students walked into their institution’s premises smilingly nervously in many Dubai schools, after all private schools reopened after a two-month summer break today.

Simultaneously, yellow school buses also took over Dubai’s roads on Monday morning, as most children returned to their schools.

Pupils were seen chatting and beaming while deboarding their school buses with many younger and new students being accompanied by their parents who had come to drop their children to school on the first day of the new academic term.

While some schools have organized staggered entry over the next few days for different year groups, others witnessed more or less full attendance on day one of the new academic year/term.

The mood on the school campuses seemed euphoric, as the school staff greeted new entrants, parents, and colleagues with visible enthusiasm after the long vacation.

Leah Quadros who is joining Gems Founders School Dubai says: “I am really excited but also kind of nervous to make new friends. I am starting Year 10 here. I was in Indian High School (IHS) for ten years and then I decided to change school this year because I was not getting my subjects in the previous school. I was really excited to come to school today after a two-month break because I am going to learn new subjects here. I might take up Psychology in future, but I also love Mathematics. I had a chat with my mother, father and my brother advising me about the new school/curriculum and after having a talk with them I feel this is the right decision for me.”

Pupils were welcomed back to schools today amid much enthusiasm in the new academic session with orientation sessions being held with new parents whose children were inducted into the school for the first time.

Parent Fiona Fernandes, whose son has joined FS 2 at Gems Founders says: “Shey was very fine and excited and happy to be here. There was no trouble waking him up today. I have no apprehensions about him joining a new school because my older son has already been here.”

Her husband, Chris Fernandes adds: “As far as I know the school is doing pretty good. I work in the school so it’s easy for me to decide because I know the management and the senior management here. I know they really do a great job.”

Year 5 student, Hussain Salama said: “I am excited about to school and make new friends here.”

His father, Ahmed Salama, says: “I don’t think he was very happy about waking up early this morning, but he was definitely excited about joining a new school. We wish the best for him. My daughter may also join this school next year as we couldn’t find a seat for her this year. We’ve been preparing the children for a week now about going back-to-school. We’ve been encouraging him to be a good student right from the beginning of the year.”

School heads highlighted the semblance of normalcy after the pandemic is a huge relief for the education sector.

Matthew Burfield, Executive Principal/CEO at GEMS Founders School - Dubai and Vice President – Education, GEMS Education, said: “We are so excited to welcome our new families to GEMS Founders School, Dubai (GFS) for the new academic year. We welcome all our families on Wednesday after giving our new families a chance to settle into the wonderful community that is GFS. It feels like this year is a chance to recover and reset after the challenging last few years and we are so thankful to the UAE authorities for continuing to support our full return to school. Thank you to all our staff who over the last two weeks have been making sure that our school is ready to receive all our children back this week and our teachers cannot wait to meet them all.”

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