UAE schools tighten rules for school trips: No phones, full uniform and a points system for behaviour

Dubai: School administrations have introduced a set of procedures and organisational and behavioural controls for student participation in school trips. These include prohibiting the bringing of mobile phones, adhering to the full school uniform, arranging prior approvals, and not allowing parents to receive their children after the end of the trips without the knowledge of the school administration, in addition to applying a system of positive and negative points to measure the extent of students’ adherence to the instructions, and linking it to the results of the school attendance system. These measures are part of an effort to enhance school discipline during extracurricular activities and trips, ensure student safety, and regulate supervision from the moment students leave school until their return. The measures aim to achieve the educational objectives of the trips and minimise behaviours that could disrupt their smooth operation. School administrations have informed parents and students of a set of guidelines to be followed before participating in the trips, emphasising the importance of adhering to positive behavioural rules, cooperating with supervisors, and taking full advantage of the programs and activities planned for the trip. The instructions emphasised the prohibition of bringing mobile phones during school trips, considering it as one of the basic rules that students must adhere to. The regulations stipulate that bringing a mobile phone to school trips is a violation requiring communication with the student's guardian, who is then obligated to come to the school to pick up the student after the trip. This measure aims to reinforce adherence to the regulations and reduce violations related to the use of personal devices during extracurricular activities. The regulations also require female students to wear their full school uniform on trips and prohibit them from changing into other clothing or wearing makeup. The instructions stressed that parents should not be allowed to pick up their children from the trip sites or after the trips have ended without the knowledge of the school administration. School administrations stipulated that approvals for participation in trips must be obtained, while emphasising the need to avoid occupying or disrupting employees during communication regarding organisational procedures. In a move aimed at promoting discipline and motivating students to comply, the instructions stipulated awarding positive points to students who adhere to the rules of school trips, in contrast to recording negative points against violators.