Some families consider extending their stay abroad as students to log in remotely
Some parents whose children study in the UAE say they may extend their stay in their home countries and continue distance learning from there, after authorities announced that online classes will continue nationwide for two weeks after the spring break ends.
The UAE said distance learning will remain in place across schools and higher education institutions to ensure student safety and maintain continuity in education.
The announcement follows an earlier decision to bring forward the spring break for students and education staff.
The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research had said the break would run from March 9 to March 22, with classes and official working hours scheduled to resume on Monday, March 23.
Classes had initially moved online from March 2 following Iran’s attacks on Gulf states, including the UAE. The measure was extended until March 6 before authorities announced the early spring break.
For some families who travelled abroad during the holidays, the extension means rethinking return plans.
Divisha Modi, who travelled to Mumbai on March 11, said the decision has prompted her family to remain in India a little longer so her son can continue attending online classes from there.
“We came to Mumbai on 11 March. My husband’s and my family live here. But after the announcement that distance learning has been extended, I’ve decided to stay here for another two weeks. It won’t be difficult for us — my son already has his iPad, we are at home with Wi-Fi, and the timing works well since there’s only a 1.5-hour difference.”
However, she said keeping children focused on studies during what would normally be a holiday visit can be challenging.
“But when children are back home in India, their mood is different. We mostly come here for holidays, so getting them to sit, work, and maintain a routine can be a challenge, especially with cousins around. Children aren’t always in the mood to study.”
For other families, travel disruptions have complicated plans even further.
Baishali Mukherjee had travelled to India to drop off her parents in Kolkata, but flight cancellations meant the family had to rebook their journey to Bengaluru instead.
“We reached Bangalore on the March 15 and are scheduled to return on the 22nd, but we will most likely stay for at least another week — if my husband Aashish’s company allows him to work from home.”
“While the internet connection and the time difference aren’t major issues, remote learning isn’t the same.”
She said online learning works better for older students, while younger children often require more parental supervision.
“Some schools and students are quite efficient with it. There are children who do home schooling too but in my case as would be the case with other younger kids, I have to sit with my son to supervise his work. Online schooling works better I think with children in the secondary and senior classes. I know schools are doing the best they can at such a time.”
For Niharika Das, the situation has divided the family across two countries.
She travelled to Delhi with her younger son to visit her ailing parents, while her older son has remained in Dubai with his father as he prepares for his final school examinations.
“My older one is in Grade 12 and this is a critical time for him. He has a lot of coursework to finish and spends most of his time revising at home as his exams begin on April 27,” she said.
Although the International Baccalaureate has extended its deadline by a month, Das noted that in practice students still face tight timelines.
“Schools still have to upload student data by April 15, so students really only have around one to two weeks to make revisions,” she said.
While her younger son can attend classes online from India, Das said the family’s circumstances mean she will likely return to Dubai soon.
“While my younger one can do online schooling from here, my older son is in the UAE and I want to be with him during this crucial period before the final stretch of his exams,” she said. “We are also staying at a relative’s home here. Even though classes are online, it’s not easy to occupy a room for the entire school day when everyone has their own schedules. It’s simply easier to manage from our own set-up back in Dubai.”
© Khaleej Times
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