Dubai Police trains security guards across 35 schools

Dubai Police have conducted extensive training and awareness courses for over 140 security guards across 35 schools, in preparation for the new academic year commencing on Monday. With more than 1,180 public and private schools in the UAE reopening on August 31, accommodating more than 1.277 million students, the initiative is crucial.

The training sessions equipped security personnel with knowledge about traffic signs, guidelines, and flow regulation during peak drop-off and pick-up hours around schools. Guards also engaged in practical scenarios simulating real-life traffic accidents and received guidance on safely managing student transfers on and off buses, as well as responding to traffic or security emergencies until authorities arrive.

Schools are implementing phased return-to-school plans, with younger pupils attending shorter hours for the first week and staggered pick-up and drop-off times to ease management. Government sector employees working in the UAE will enjoy flexible hours to accommodate the new school schedule, with the Federal Authority for Government Resources permitting a three-hour maximum time away from work.

To ensure road safety, the UAE interior ministry is launching a one-day traffic safety campaign, offering motorists the opportunity to remove four black points from their licences by avoiding accidents. Dubai Police will deploy 253 patrols and 28 drones around schools, while the Roads and Transport Authority will increase bus frequencies on over 30 routes, add taxis in school zones, and enhance patrols in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ajman.

Ras Al Khaimah Police will also intensify patrols around schools and establish traffic and pick-up areas. In a significant educational reform, the UAE’s Minister of Education announced that pupils between kindergarten and Year 2 at public schools will no longer have homework, with new evaluations for all licensed public and private schools.

Additionally, the authority conducted a specialized training week for more than 24,000 school leaders, teachers, advisors, and support staff, offering a dedicated development programme for 1,700 school leaders, including 500 principals and 1,200 vice principals.