UAE extends distance learning for all schools, universities till April 17 / Image: File

The UAE has officially extended remote learning in all educational institutions until April 17, 2026, keeping millions of students out of classrooms for at least two more weeks.The decision was announced by the UAE Ministry of Education, which confirmed that the extension applies to nurseries, kindergartens, public and private schools across the country, as well as teaching and administrative staff.Officials said the move is aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of students and teachers while maintaining continuity in learning through digital platforms. The situation will be reviewed weekly, meaning the April 17 deadline could be revised depending on developments.

Why did UAE extend online classes again?

The latest expansion is part of a longer shift toward remote learning that began in March.Schools across the UAE initially began online learning between March 2 and March 4, followed by an early spring break from March 9 to March 22, which was brought forward due to regional developments.When Term 3 was due to start on 23 March, officials decided to continue with remote learning rather than reopening campuses. The initial plan was to resume physical classes by early April, but the new announcement has now pushed that timeline to mid-April.This gradual and evolving approach reflects how UAE authorities are responding in real time, rather than committing to a fixed reopening schedule.

Schools and curriculum affected

This expansion affects a wide range of institutions across different courses.Many Indian curriculum schools including

Online classes have continued till the end of the academic session, with students attending classes virtually rather than returning briefly before the new session.Similarly, schools with British, IB and US curriculums in Dubai and other emirates initially planned to reopen on staggered dates in early April, but those plans are now on hold.Following instructions from local regulators such as the Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA), many schools in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates had already started the new 2026-27 academic year online.For younger students, including kindergarten children, schools held mock online sessions over the weekend to help families adapt to digital learning platforms.

university program

While schools are completely online, universities in the UAE are taking a more flexible approach.Under the guidance of the Ministry of Higher Education, some institutions have started a phased return to campus from March 30, but only for courses that require physical presence, such as:

On-campus examinations are also permitted where necessary.However, many major institutions continue to operate remotely.

This hybrid model highlights the shift toward flexible education systems rather than a one-size-fits-all reopening.

How is online learning conducted?

Schools across the UAE have now settled into structured digital routines, with many institutions replicating full-day schedules similar to physical classes. Students are attending live virtual lessons, completing online assignments and participating in regular assessments through dedicated learning platforms.Also, schools have strengthened communication with parents to ensure that students remain academically engaged and on track. Authorities had previously issued detailed Term 3 guidelines that encouraged flexible timetables, continuous assessment methods and close coordination between teachers and families.This approach has helped minimize disruption and maintain continuity of learning, even if campuses remain closed for extended periods.

Will schools reopen after April 17?

At present, the probable date of return is April 17, but officials have made it clear that the situation is being constantly reviewed.Any decision to resume in-person classes will depend on regional conditions, safety assessment and approval from authorities such as Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).Schools seeking to reopen early must submit detailed requests, which are reviewed on a case-by-case basis before approval.Until then, distance learning remains the primary mode of education in the UAE, leading to one of the most extended and structured online learning phases since the pandemic era.

If money could buy happiness, the richest people on earth would be happy, but if we look around us, we will find that many of them are unhappy. They worry, fear and suffer. They are stressed. Some are sad. Some people end their lives. Why? Because happiness is not a product that can be bought. We can have everything and still be unhappy or we can have nothing and still be happy. Happiness does not depend on what we have but on how we feel.Money belongs to the outside world. Happiness belongs to the inner world. You may have read this a thousand times but it’s nothing but the truth: Money can buy a bed but not sleep. He can buy a ring but not love. Medicine can be bought with this but not health. With this you can buy a house but not a house. With this you can buy a watch but not time. Therefore, money can buy things, but not happiness. We have been conditioned to believe, ‘If I get more, I will be happy.’ More money, more success, more wealth, more recognition. But as soon as we get what we want, the mind asks for more. We move from one desire to another. We are on what is called the hedonic treadmill: we keep chasing pleasures but getting nowhere. Desires can never quench our thirst. They can only tear us apart. It’s like trying to fill a vessel that has a hole in the bottom. No matter how much we pour into it, it will never be filled. The problem is that we mistake happiness for happiness. Money creates pleasure, comfort and convenience – but not happiness. Happiness is temporary. Happiness is permanent. Joy excites. Completes happiness. Happiness comes from sense gratification, wealth, achievement, success. It is fleeting. We need something else. We should go beyond happiness towards peace, which is the basis of happiness. And finally, to purpose, which is to realize the ultimate goal of life – Who am I? That’s why I write happiness with the 3 P’s – reflecting the 3 keys to happiness: Joy, Peace, and Purpose. True happiness begins when we go beyond the mind and into awareness or consciousness. In this state of awareness we experience peace. The intellect replaces the mind – which is the source of our suffering. When we stop chasing material things and start appreciating what we have; When gratitude replaces greed; When we live a full life, when we live with satisfaction, we are peaceful and happy. A poor man who is satisfied can sleep peacefully. A rich man suffering from anxiety may toss and turn all night. Between these two – who do you think will be happier? This does not mean that money is useless. We all need it to survive. To earn livelihood. It can also create opportunities to serve and share; It can be used for the betterment of humanity. The problem is greed, our lust for money, our love for money. And the mistake we make is that we expect money to do the job it was never meant to do – to make us happy. Happiness is not a pursuit, it is a race to become an ace. This is an option. Instead of saying, ‘I want to be happy,’ we should say, ‘I choose to be happy.’ Happiness is not about money, but about moments and minutes. It’s about the joy of being in the now, the present moment. It’s about making others happy. And when we awaken to our true self – the ultimate truth that we are not body, mind and ego but soul, a part of God, we experience a happiness that no market can sell and no currency can measure. A happiness that comes from deep within, unaffected by events, circumstances, a state of eternal peace and bliss.

उत्तर प्रदेश समाचार: उत्तर प्रदेश में मुख्यमंत्री सामूहिक विवाह योजना के तहत आवेदन करने वाले 1784 जोड़े अपनी शादी की तारीख का बेसब्री से इंतजार कर रहे हैं। इन युवाओं ने योजना के लिए आवेदन किया था, लेकिन कई माह बीत जाने के बाद भी विभाग की ओर से कोई स्पष्ट जवाब नहीं मिला है. ऐसे में उनकी उम्मीदें अधर में लटक गई हैं. यह योजना गरीब और जरूरतमंद परिवारों के लिए शुरू की गई थी, ताकि उन्हें वित्तीय सहायता के साथ सम्मानजनक तरीके से शादी करने का अवसर मिल सके। लेकिन अब देरी के कारण कई परिवार परेशान नजर आ रहे हैं.

योजना बनी सहारा, बढ़ी लोगों की रुचि
मुख्यमंत्री सामूहिक विवाह योजना गरीब परिवारों के लिए बड़ी राहत मानी जा रही है। पहले इस योजना के तहत एक जोड़े की शादी पर 51 हजार रुपये खर्च किये जाते थे, जिसे पिछले वित्तीय वर्ष में बढ़ाकर एक लाख रुपये कर दिया गया. रकम बढ़ने के बाद इस योजना में लोगों की दिलचस्पी तेजी से बढ़ी है और बड़ी संख्या में आवेदन आने लगे हैं.

यह योजना धर्म और जाति से परे है
इस योजना की खास बात यह है कि इसमें किसी धर्म या जाति का कोई बंधन नहीं है. हिंदू जोड़ों की शादी पारंपरिक रीति-रिवाजों के अनुसार कराई जाती है, जबकि मुस्लिम जोड़ों की शादी काजी के माध्यम से कराई जाती है। इस कारण यह योजना सभी वर्गों के लिए समान रूप से उपयोगी सिद्ध हो रही है।

गाजीपुर में हजारों शादियां हो चुकी हैं
यह योजना ग़ाज़ीपुर जिले में 2017 से लागू है। अब तक इस योजना के तहत 7967 जोड़ों का विवाह कराया जा चुका है। पिछले वित्तीय वर्ष में 799 शादियां कराने का लक्ष्य रखा गया था, जिसके सापेक्ष 796 शादियां कराई गईं। यानी लक्ष्य लगभग पूरा हो गया, लेकिन इसके बावजूद कई आवेदन लंबित रह गये.

1784 आवेदन अभी भी लंबित हैं
विवाह के लिए आवेदन पूर्णतः ऑनलाइन प्रक्रिया से किये जाते हैं। फिलहाल पोर्टल पर 1784 ऐसे जोड़े हैं जिन्होंने आवेदन तो कर दिया है, लेकिन उनकी शादी की तारीख तय नहीं हुई है. वित्तीय वर्ष समाप्त होने के कारण इस वर्ष का लक्ष्य पूरा हो चुका है, इसलिए नये आवेदनों पर कार्रवाई अभी संभव नहीं है. अब इन सभी को अगले वित्तीय वर्ष का इंतजार करना होगा.

अधिकारियों ने आश्वासन दिया
जिला समाज कल्याण अधिकारी राम नगीना यादव के मुताबिक अगले वित्तीय वर्ष में सभी लंबित आवेदनों को प्राथमिकता दी जाएगी। जैसे ही नया बजट जारी होगा और तारीखों की घोषणा होगी, सभी जोड़ों की शादी उनके धर्म के अनुसार कराई जाएगी.