Dubai/Al Ain/Fujairah/Ras Al Khaimah: Despite the chaotic traffic in most cities, it was a relatively smooth first day for the 500,000 pupils who went to school on Sunday.
Mixed reactions were observed as thousands of pupils returned to their schools yesterday after the summer vacation. As for parents, it meant dealing with an increase in expenses, even as there was a rise in traffic congestion.
An estimated 500,000 pupils are back to their classrooms as public schools and kindergartens opened their doors after the summer break on Sunday. Private schools also commenced and the rest will reopen within two weeks.
Many pupils were overjoyed to be back to school while some wanted an extension of their summer break. Parents were all over the place, trying to complete the last-minute procedures of enrolment. And certainly no school starts its first day without having its share of minor difficulties and challenges.
"It's a great day; we are meeting with our friends again. Fun has returned to our lives," said Mohammad Salem, a grade-8 student in a private school in Al Ain.
Ahmad Mukhtar, a grade-10 student, said heat and Ramadan did not make much difference to him. "We are used to attending schools during Ramadan. The only difference is the hot weather, but we can cope with it," he said.
In Fujairah, Sultan Al Ka'abi, principal at Abu Jandal Secondary School for Boys, was busy with his first-day chores. He said the old school building could do with some renovation, adding he was pleased with the introduction of four new 'facilities rooms' where students could make use of computers and other technologies.
Special arrangements
Al Nahda Kindergarten made special arrangements for children joining school for the first time, to help with the transition. However, more than half the school children were absent as this year, other students and kindergarten children commenced their sessions on the same day, making things a bit chaotic for parents.
"We have a lot of absentees this year. The Ministry of Education should have extended the kindergarten summer break by at least a week. Parents can't handle first week of school for their older and younger children at the same time," said Fatma Moussa, a kindergarten principal.
One confused father, who was trying to figure out where to place his five-year-old son, said: "Normally my wife deals with these, but we struck a deal that I would handle it this time as she was up late last night, watching television."
The beginning of this week also marks the return of thousands of university students. This year has come with an additional factor to consider - as the first day of Ramadan also coincides with the first week of school. New students sat through orientation sessions where they familiarised themselves with their universities.
For freshers, this is an exciting period because it indicates a transition into a more mature learning environment.
-With inputs from Manal Ismail, Staff Reporter
How was your child’s first day at school? Did you face traffic issues? What steps did you take to ensure your child’s journey was smooth and he/she reached on time? Should all schools be moved to a specific area to prevent traffic congestion?
By Siham Al Najami, Aftab Kazmi, Fuad Ali, Nasouh Nazzal and Maysam Ali, Staff reporters