UAE to resume physical school classes

ABU DHABI: The UAE Ministry of Education has announced that regular classroom teaching will resume across all nurseries, kindergartens, and public and private schools starting Monday, April 20, 2026.

The ministry announced on Wednesday that students and educational staff members would return to schools for face-to-face instruction. The decision follows the completion of preparedness measures, which include facility checks and staff training, and the establishment of new safety and security protocols.

The ministry said these steps are intended to establish a safe learning environment that protects students and their families throughout the nation.

Private schools will retain the flexibility to adopt a hybrid rotational learning model when necessary, subject to approval by local education authorities.

Schools that implement hybrid systems must establish appropriate staffing methods that prevent teachers from teaching both in-person and remote classes at the same time.

The ministry created these educational guidelines to support educational institutions through their function of delivering high-quality education while allocating teaching staff work assignments.

The educational institutions will continue to maintain their ability to transition into different teaching methods, which will allow them to teach students effectively during all upcoming school interruptions.

The announcement ends uncertainty surrounding the school schedule and provides parents and institutions with clear timelines to prepare for the return of on-campus learning.