At the start of the academic year, which began for students across the UAE on August 31st, schools are reminding parents of an important rule: children who feel unwell must stay home until fully recovered.
Institutions strongly recommend that families keep children at home if they exhibit symptoms such as fever, cough, vomiting, or diarrhea. This helps children recover while simultaneously limiting the spread of illnesses in classrooms.
These recommendations come in light of the start of the new academic year, when millions of children are settling into classes across the country. School administrators emphasize that maintaining children's health is only possible through cooperation between parents and educational institutions.
Schools inform families that their health and safety practices comply with the guidelines of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).
At Woodlem British School in Ajman, Director Natalia Svetenenko stated that the message to parents must be very clear: children absorb material better when they feel well. She noted that families are always reminded of one simple thing: a child learns best when healthy. If a student has a fever, flu symptoms, vomiting, or diarrhea, the right decision is to stay home until recovery and safe return. In cases of infectious diseases, medical certificates may be required, but not for every minor illness.
The school also continues to focus on on-campus measures, including hygiene, ventilation, and cleanliness. Svetenenko stressed that communication between parents and schools remains particularly important when a child starts showing signs of discomfort. She added that the school continues to focus on clean classrooms, good ventilation, regular sanitation, and strict hygiene procedures, and that the most important thing is interaction. When parents and the school work together early on, they protect the well-being of every child and ensure continuity of learning.
It can be difficult for families to draw the line between a mild cold and symptoms requiring a child to stay home, especially during the busy first weeks of the school year. Therefore, schools urge parents to be cautious if their children develop a fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, or other signs of illness. In addition to disease prevention measures, institutions will also continue to conduct vaccination initiatives as part of a broader approach to student health.
At Sharjah Indian School, vaccination programs start significantly earlier than the beginning of the new academic year. Director Pramod Mahajan reported that parents are required to provide vaccination records, allowing the school to identify any gaps and organize vaccinations if necessary, with parental consent. He specified that their immunization campaign begins as early as April. Parents are asked to provide proof of their children's vaccination; if gaps are found, the school offers to conduct vaccinations during its campaign, but only after obtaining parental consent.
The program covers students from kindergarten to senior grades, with the type of vaccination varying depending on age and requirements. Mahajan noted that the school follows the established schedule and provides families with relevant dates. He added that in September-October, for example, influenza vaccination will be conducted, and this campaign runs six times a year.
Meanwhile, in a circular to parents, one of Dubai's schools reiterated that maintaining a healthy environment requires 'proactive collaboration between families and the school,' emphasizing that providing sufficient time for recovery helps protect both the child and the entire school community. This school specifically asked parents to keep children home and monitor them if they develop a cough, temperature above 37.5°C, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, runny nose, body aches, stomach pain, conjunctivitis, or rash. Parents were also advised to consult a pediatrician if necessary.
These health recommendations also stress that although illness cannot always be prevented, giving children enough time to recover can help protect both the child and the wider school community. It is important to note that the school has set clear rules for returning to school: 'Children must be fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducers before returning to class.' Those who suffered from vomiting or diarrhea must wait 48 hours after symptoms subside to return.
