School attendance rates dropped by up to a third yesterday (February 14) as parents opted to keep their children at home in the wake of the first anniversary of the unrest.

However, schools remained open throughout the day and parents were allowed to collect their children earlier when necessary.

Among the worst-hit was the Nadeen School in Mahooz, where sources confirmed administrative staff were sent home an hour early.

'Our attendance was approximately two-thirds, with one-third of our pupils being kept at home,' said a spokeswoman. 'Parents were told that they could collect their children at any time during the day, but we were staying open during the normal school hours until further notice.”

Attendance rates at government schools were reportedly badly hit, but Education Ministry officials were unable to provide information.

St Christopher's Junior School in Saar and the Senior School in Isa Town remained open as normal.

'There were no plans to close the schools earlier than normal and across all the year groups, we had between 75 and 80 per cent attendance,' said a spokeswoman.

The British School in Hamala was also largely unaffected.

'We are working during the normal school hours, but attendance is certainly lower than normal,' said a spokeswoman.

Normal attendance levels were reported at the Indian School in Isa Town.

'The school is open as normal,' said principal V R Palaniswamy. It is a regular working day for us and no different from any other day.” – TradeArabia News Service