Dubai: Government and private schools have intensified their awareness messages to students and parents before the start of the new academic year, placing school discipline at the forefront of the requirements for returning to classrooms.This is being established through a set of controls that regulate attendance, departure, behaviour, personal appearance and school uniform, and restrict the use of phones and electronic devices, in addition to rules related to food, maintaining property and communication between the family and the school.School administrations confirmed, in messages and guidelines, that preparations for the new year are not limited to schedules, books and staff, but rather begin with adjusting the rhythm of the school day, from the moment the student arrives at school until he/she leaves, in order to ensure a safe and organised educational environment, and to limit practices that may affect the regularity of classes or the students’ concentration.Attendance begins before the assemblyAttendance times topped the list of instructions, as schools stressed the importance of students arriving on time and before the start of the morning assembly, in order to avoid delays and the resulting disruption to the start of the school day, while emphasising adherence to the rules of conduct and regulations inside and outside the classroom.The guidelines urged students to treat their colleagues, educational and administrative staff with respect and courtesy, and to adhere to discipline within classrooms, facilities and school grounds, considering responsible behaviour as an integral part of the educational process and not merely a set of organisational instructions.Phones outside of school daySchool messages emphasised the prohibition of bringing mobile phones, some tablets, and cameras to school, in a move aimed at reducing sources of distraction, protecting the privacy of members of the school community, and ensuring students' focus during classes and activities.The regulations extended to organising communication between parents and students during school hours, as some schools asked families not to communicate directly with their children through applications and means of communication during the school day, and that this should be done through the school administration when needed.Dress and appearance subject to regulationsSchools have placed uniform and personal appearance among the most prominent disciplinary matters since day one, emphasising the wearing of the prescribed school uniform and adherence to the approved design for each stage or grade level, as well as wearing the sports uniform only on the day designated for the physical education class.The instructions also included adherence to general appearance and personal hygiene, in addition to controls on some outer clothing items and their colours, in accordance with the policy adopted in each school.Food and beveragesThe instructions also extended to the student's lunch bag, as schools called for bringing healthy meals and avoiding unhealthy foods, with a complete ban on soft drinks and energy drinks, as well as a ban on bringing chewing gum to the school premises.The administrations stressed the importance of making healthy habits part of the student's daily routine, which supports their ability to concentrate and learn and promotes the concept of a healthy school environment.The schools have also established clear mechanisms for leaving during school hours. The student is not allowed to leave except in accordance with the approved procedures and in the presence of the guardian and the presentation of the necessary evidence, in order to ensure the safety of the students and to control the processes of asking for permission and leaving.Organising departure gatesThe instructions extended to the end of the school day, as some schools specified particular gates for students to leave according to their classes or study groups, and asked parents and owners of private vehicles to adhere to the arrival and departure times and not to be late in picking up students, in order to avoid congestion and raise the level of safety in front of the schools.The messages reflect the schools’ shift from simply issuing general warnings to detailing the rules of the school day item by item, thus placing the student and the parent before a clear map of obligations from the first day, and giving school administrations more room to control attendance, behaviour, appearance, use of devices, and entry and exit movements.Schools emphasised in their messages that the success of the discipline system requires a direct partnership between the school and the family, as the parent’s responsibility does not end at the school gate, but extends to promoting adherence to instructions, attendance times, uniform, behaviour, and maintaining property, which contributes to building a safe, disciplined, and stimulating school environment for learning.
