Catherine W GichukiDohaWith the COVID-19 preventive and precautionary measures in the school put in place, parents are now comfortable sending their children to school. As students and parents spent their first week of school being given orientation on the blended learning and the precautionary measures that should be observed by the school community, parents are now confident that their children can safely go to school without the fear of contracting the virus at school.It is worth to note that schools in-person school attendance is limited to 30 percent of normal student capacity on any given day.Speaking to Qatar Tribune Lulu Gumila, a parent whose child attends Philippine International School -Qatar (PISQ) said, “We had an online orientation for the parents and the school showed us how the students will do in-person classes. As per the orientation, we saw that the all the precautionary measures have been observed and that’s why I was confident in sending my child to school. It’s safe.”According to her, when her daughter who is in Grade 5 went back home on Thursday from school, she asked her about the number of students that were in her class. “There are very few students in a class. The social distancing is well observed.”She added that the teachers are advising playful kids not to touch each other. “The children are not allowed to play and touch each other for now. We have been assured that the kids are safe at school.”According to her, the rooms and surfaces are sanitized to keep all safe.  “There are soaps and hand sanitizers in the bathrooms.  The students are also required to carry their own hand sanitizers, wipes although the school is equipped with these necessities.”She said that the school has involved parents with the learning programme of the students. “Students have their own email which copies in the parents’ email addresses, therefore, the students and their parents are always updated. “Gumila said that the days that the students are not going to school, the lessons are offered virtually through Google Classroom. According to her the teachers will keep on updating the parents as soon as get any information from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. Sarah Mugi, another parent whose child is in Year 4 at Park House English School said that the school did orientation for students on how to wash their hands and maintain social distance while at school.“Each table has one student only. Parents are also not allowed to the school building. They are allowed to drop their children only, which is a wonderful precautionary measure.”She added that the parents should also have the Ehteraz app while they drop off their children to school. According to her, during the pick -up time, the parents are observing all the precautionary measures such as maintaining the distance between people as they wait for their children to leave classrooms. “There are markings on where each person should stand.”According to her, currently the children are also not going out to play. “The students have also been advised not to share their items with other children while at school. The school canteen is also not open.”Currently, the children will go to school one or two times per week while the remaining days of the week will be virtual.  Another Parent, Antony Kimeu whose child is in Year 3 at Gulf English School said that he was confident about sending his son to school. In his son’s grade, they are divided into two groups and each group is required to go to school in person two times in a week. However, for those children who have people with chronic diseases or pregnant are not required to attend school in person.“Seeing all the precautionary measures that the school has put in place I am very confident that the school is safe. The school is sanitized all the time as well as the surfaces and also after the children leave the entire school is sanitized. There are also cleaners who are cleaning the tables and sanitizing after the children eat especially those in lower grades. We are supposed to pack food for our children.”He added that during the pick-up time the school has put 20 minutes apart from each class so that there is no overcrowding as parents pick their children. “Parents are not allowed to come near the school if it is not yet their time slot.”According to him, when the children are not in school in person, they attend the class online via Microsoft Teams. “Even if it is the day of their online class, the kids are required to be punctual and in full school uniform. There is a register even while studying online.”Kimeu said that the school is following all the guidelines laid down by the MoPH. “Parents are required to provide their children with masks and sanitisers, and the students should wear the masks all the time. The students also are not going out to play.”According to joint messages by the Ministry of Public Health, Hamad Medical Corporation and Primary Corporation, while schools are offering blended learning combining online and desk school learning, the school should enforce the policy of staying at home if unwell for students, teachers and school staff with symptoms. Schools should also inform the school nurse and ensure they have received MoPH safe education training. “If any student or staff shows any signs of respiratory symptoms, they must be isolated immediately and the school should contact public health authorities.  Games, activities and events such as field trips, students assemblies, athletic events or practices, special performances, school live parent meetings, avoid gathering of teachers and staff, should be avoided. Disinfect facilities such as benches, desks and chairs at the beginning and end of the day.  Equipments and toys that cannot be cleaned and sanitized should not be used.”