Dubai and Sharjah schools issue new guidelines, limit photos to designated events.
Dubai: Parents visiting schools in the UAE are being urged to be more cautious about taking photos or videos on campus, as schools in Dubai and Sharjah introduce tighter guidelines aimed at protecting student privacy.
Fresh circulars issued by schools advise parents and visitors to avoid photographing or filming on school premises, particularly when other students or staff members could appear in the images.
Parents have also been asked not to share photos or videos featuring other students on WhatsApp groups, social media or other digital platforms unless appropriate consent has been obtained, according to school circulars shared with Gulf News by parents.
GEMS Our Own English High School, Sharjah – Boys highlighted the measures in a circular titled “Protecting Our Students’ Privacy”. Principal and CEO Srivalsan Murugan said safeguarding the safety, privacy and wellbeing of every student remains a top priority for the school.
Referring to UAE privacy requirements and guidance being reinforced across private schools, the circular asks parents and visitors not to take photographs or videos in situations where students or staff could be captured without their consent.
The guidelines apply across school premises, including classrooms, corridors, playgrounds, assemblies and drop-off and pick-up areas.
GEMS Winchester School – Dubai has issued similar guidance to parents, with a circular signed by CEO and Executive Principal Matthew James Lecuyer reinforcing the same message on protecting students’ privacy.
Stricter stance in Sharjah
The International School of Choueifat – Sharjah has adopted a stricter approach to photography on campus. The school administration said it had become aware of parents taking photos and videos at school, including images featuring their own children as well as other students, and subsequently sharing them on WhatsApp groups and social media.
The school reminded families that photography and video recording are strictly prohibited on regular school days. The restriction applies throughout the school day and across the campus, including during drop-off and pick-up, assemblies and in classrooms, corridors, playgrounds and other school areas.
Parents have been instructed not to photograph, record or share any images or videos taken on school premises during normal school operations.
When can parents take photos?
At Choueifat, an exception applies to official school events where parents have been specifically invited to attend and participate.
Even during these events, parents are advised to photograph or film only their own children and take care not to capture other students in the background or share content featuring them.
The school also asked parents not to circulate previously taken photos or videos featuring other students and advised that such content be removed from social media and parent groups if it has already been posted.
GEMS schools, meanwhile, have taken a more flexible approach. Recognising that families may want to capture important moments in their children’s school lives, they said clear photography guidelines will be provided for designated events. Where possible, schools will also create suitable opportunities for parents to take photos safely while respecting the privacy of others.
Official photography conducted by the schools will continue to follow established consent, privacy and safeguarding procedures.
