Parents have the right not to send their children to school but must also ensure their children’s right to education, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has stated. 

H E Dr Abdullah bin Khamis bin Ali Ambusaidi, MoE Undersecretary, confirmed on Monday that children’s education will not stop as the ministry has provided all available alternatives for continuing education.

He assured parents, saying, “We will not put our students at risk,” and added that they have the right not to send their children to school. “But they must adhere to a number of obligations that grant children’s right to education. There is also the necessity of taking the tests assigned to students,” H E Dr Ambusaidi said.

He congratulated the members of the teaching and administrative bodies at the start of the school year who returned to work on Sunday. He informed that teachers, administrators and supervisors have returned to school to train in all matters related to blended education. 

“The training will be linked to instructional and technical aspects. They will also be informed of the precautionary measures that should be implemented in the sultanate’s schools.”

About commencement of the new academic year, he said, “The efforts went well and this is all due to the endeavors of the directorates and schools.” 

On preparing schools to receive teachers, he said that work has started in a decentralised manner and entrusted to the educational directorates in the governorates. 

“A lot depends on the effectiveness of schools in addition to the role of cleaning companies in providing the required services to adhere to the precautionary measures.”

With regard to students returning to school, he said, “The ministry is ready and education must not stop, and we must learn in the way available to us. The ministry will be able to find solutions to any challenge it faces.”

He added, “The Supreme Committee for dealing with COVID-19 takes the decision regarding education, the ministry is the implementing agency and blended education is the way forward this year.”