In UAE, Al Najah Education announced a 20 percent cut in school fees “to help families through the hard times that lie ahead.” Horizon English School and Horizon International School will observe the above mandate on fees reduction. The exemption is levied to all Year groups in the 2019-2020 academic year. In a statement, the group announced that it is “the first in the UAE to offer a relief plan to parents.” In UAE, the COVID-19 pandemic has around 664 confirmed cases with 6 deaths. The country has imposed its first-ever lockdown bringing an immediate economic slowdown.
“Horizon English School maintains a child-centered teaching approach during this unprecedented time. Our teachers continue to provide an outstanding e-learning experience to all our students and are fully equipped to continue this until the end of this academic year. We believe that this is the time that the community needs to come together and support each other in any and all ways possible,” commented Ian Wallace, headteacher at Horizon English School.
Keeping in consideration the economic distress that lies ahead, PACE Education Group has waived school transport fees to lessen the burden on parents. PACE has heavily invested in its IT, infrastructure and e-learning to provide for a quality platform for blended and interactive learning.
Dubai schools have seamlessly switched to e-learning to end the academic year with optimism and hope. On March 8, 2020, UAE had imposed school shutdowns for three weeks to stop the spread of coronavirus in the country.
COVID-19 and Global Economy
The lockdown is speculated to impair the world economy with an imminent recession. The role of educators and traditional classroom learning has been brutally challenged. As schools rethink mode of learning and noble ways of communication, millions of students are dangling in academic uncertainties.
