What Are KHDA’s Safe Zones In The UAE School Campuses That Parents Must Know?

As the schools across the UAE resume in-person learning, they are seeing a phased return to normal operations. This comes after there were several weeks of disruption due to the regional conflict. As a parent, there are several important things that one must know, especially when it comes to reopening rules and safe zones. Here’s all you need to know about the safe zones at school campuses and what they are.

UAE Schools Must Have Safe Zones

Before we dive into what safe zones are at school campuses, it is important to remember that schools across the UAE reopened on April 20th. The resumption of schools is happening in a phased manner, and this comes after 40 days of distance learning. Private schools were only allowed to reopen after they received approval from the KHDA, which is the Knowledge and Human Development Authority. Schools have been asked to sign a reopening acknowledgement and consent form. This ensures that all the staff have completed reopening protocol training.

What Are Safe Zones?

As revealed by the Gulf News, schools are introducing designated cafe zones, which are within their campus. These are complete with specific indoor areas, which have been designed to ensure the safety of students in case of any emergency. These are a part of the KHDA’s reopening protocol for Dubai private school guidelines.

What Are The Requirements For Safe Zones?

What are the indoor operation and space requirements for the safe zones? Well, they must meet specific criteria, and they are as follows:

• These must be closed by solid walls with a concrete roof, and there should be no external areas.
• There should be proper ventilation without any exposure to potential hazards.
• Finally, there must be clearly marked emergency exits and assembly points.

There are certain safe zone rules that must be complied with, and they are as follows:

• The safe zone should be located away from windows and glass.
• It should be reachable within one minute from any location.
• There must be no requirement to cross outdoor or exposed areas.
• It must be available in multiple locations across the building.
• It should not be used if the compliance safe zone does not exist.

Also Read: Sharjah To Open A Women-Only Beach Park Featuring Fitness Facilities, Family Areas & More

A Requirement For Schools To Train The Staff

For this purpose, schools are also being asked to ensure that proper planning and mapping. For this, the schools must ensure that the safe zones have been clearly marked on the evacuation and emergency plans. Moreover, the staff should be aware of the safe zones in their assigned areas, and these zones should be distributed across the building for quick access.

Finally, it is a requirement for all schools to train their staff on safety protocols and evacuation routes. Moreover, they must be assigned the role in advance rather than during the emergency. Finally, they must be prepared and maintain an emergency go-bag, which includes first aid supplies, registers, and contact details.

So, with schools reopening in a phased manner? Make sure to know about the safe zones.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/Caleb Oquendo from Pexels (Cover image is for representative purposes only)