Displaced students start attending classes

Around 200 Pakistani students displaced by the closure of their school last month finally found admittance at a new school and started classes on Sunday.

“I took 200 students with me to Al Ettehad Private School, and 30 of them were admitted for free,” Shahnaz Sultana said happily.

Sultana owned the New Al Hilal Private School that was shut down last month by the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) as part of an emirate-wide plan to close all villa schools by 2013.

Her school catered for low-income families for 22 years and charged a maximum fee of Dh150 a month. Out of 280 students in her rolls last school year, 50 were attending classes for free.

Last week, Khaleej Times reported on the sad plight of the students. At that time, their future appeared dismal without the possibility of continuing their education for lack of means to pay their school fees.

According to Sultana, who now works as administration supervisor at Al Ettehad, the new school has consented to accept Dh300 as fees which parents managed to eke out for each of their children. Sultana is trying to find out other means to pay the difference and other school expenses including uniforms, which she managed to get for half the price from Sharjah.

“I will try to get money from Red Crescent. Hopefully they will give Dh3,000 for some of the students,” said Sultana who admitted to not having a penny left in her pocket for this month after paying for her students’ expenses. But she does not begrudge it. She is, instead, grateful to Dr Afsar Khan, owner of Al Ettehad school who has “compromised with me too much.” In addition to the students, Dr Khan also took in seven teachers from the New Al Hilal to teach English, Urdu and Science.

While getting accustomed to their new school location, Sultana has commissioned three of her old school buses to transport the students. This is to encourage them to attend school. “Otherwise all the children will run away,” she explained.

“Later on, when my contract is finish with the buses, Dr Khan will arrange the students in every bus at the school according to their area,” she added. The only concern that remains now are the books.

According to her, a set of books costs nearly Dh500, a hefty amount for her students who barely have enough to eat.

“Please, if anybody wants to help us, help us now as I need to give the syllabus (books) to the children immediately,” she urged.

olivia@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE