Educational institutions across the United Arab Emirates are transforming into sanctuaries of collective healing as they develop innovative approaches to help students navigate profound loss following recent tragedies within school communities.
The educational sector’s response comes after two devastating incidents that shook the expatriate community. In Abu Dhabi, four young Indian brothers lost their lives in a catastrophic vehicle collision on Sunday morning. This tragedy follows closely after the sudden passing of 17-year-old Aisha Mariam in Sharjah last month, who collapsed from cardiac arrest despite having no prior medical conditions.
Educators are demonstrating extraordinary emotional intelligence in their response strategies. Naseer Chowthodika, a Physics instructor at Arab Unity School, shared his poignant experience of confronting an empty desk during exam distribution, describing how the silence spoke volumes about the irreplaceable void left by his departed Year 10 student.
At Sharjah Indian School, Principal Pramod Mahajan employed a powerful nonverbal approach by personally occupying the chair of the deceased student for ten minutes. This symbolic gesture helped classmates gradually overcome their reluctance to use the space, demonstrating that acknowledging absence can be the first step toward healing.
Veteran educator Lisa Johnson of American Academy for Girls emphasized the importance of structured emotional support systems. Her institution has implemented a wellbeing triage protocol that identifies distressed students and pairs them with trusted adults for regular check-ins. The school also utilizes creative outlets like memory books and remembrance trees with personalized messages to facilitate processing of grief.
Dubai-based life coach Girish Hemnani provided professional insight, noting that grief manifests in children through often-misinterpreted symptoms including irritability, exhaustion, and physical discomfort. He stressed the critical importance of validating these responses rather than dismissing them as behavioral issues.
Parents like Dubai resident Fiza have expressed appreciation for schools’ delicate handling of these situations, particularly how administrators balanced honesty with compassion when breaking tragic news to students.
The educational community’s comprehensive approach includes teacher training on sensitivity adjustments, academic flexibility during mourning periods, and long-term support mechanisms that continue through anniversaries and significant dates, ensuring no student feels abandoned in their grief journey.