MUSCAT: After staying home for months, Mohammed Al Abri, a 12-year-old student from Baushar is excited to be reunited with friends and teachers in campus, as Oman opens schools in a bid to bring the country back to normalcy.
“I’m so excited about returning to school for in-class lessons after spending a long time while studying from home. I missed meeting my friends and teachers,” said Al Abri who is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
More than 700,000 students will return to classrooms on Sunday as the new academic year begins in Omani schools.
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According to the statistics provided by the Ministry of Education (MOE), 702,568 students from 1204 schools, including 1,191 basic educational institutions, 13 post-basic institutions and 22 new schools will reopen to start the new academic year 2021-2022.
“It’s much easier to be in school rather than studying online. We were feeling secluded but now I am glad to be back,” Al Abri added.
MOE has taken all precautionary measures ahead of the opening. “Our priority is to safeguard the students and teaching staff. We have taken all measures to ensure safe schooling is conducted across all campuses in the country,” said Dr. Madiha Al Shaibani, Minister of Education.
Khalid Al Balushi, a parent from Al Seeb said he is nerves but want his kids experiment the new normal. “I am pretty nerves because so many kids will be in school. But I trust the authorities especially the MOE. I am sure they have taken all measures to ensure kids are safe. I want my kids to experiment the new normal. They have been spending months inside home. How long can we do that?,” Khalid added.
Meanwhile, Indian schools will reopen campuses in a phased manner in the first week of October. “Schooling from home can never be a substitute as it’s important our kids receive essential educational, social, and developmental benefits by attending the school. The support and encouragement of the Ministry of Education in this regard is indeed praiseworthy; its comprehensive operational guideline framework is very helpful and encouraging,” Dr. Sivakumar Manickam, Chairman of Board of Directors has informed.
