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Maintenance work complete, yet not complete in schools

The efforts were stepped up this year following media reports last year which highlighted the lack of maintenance work in public schools. The media also reported that the number of teachers and other academic staff members was not enough to ensure smooth operations.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, a top official from the Ajman Education Zone said that a comprehensive maintenance programme had been implemented. This included supplying tables, chairs, blackboards and other pieces of furniture to public schools. However, he pointed out that there still remained several schools that required replacement of air conditioners and installation of canopies in open playgrounds to protect students from the sun. The Education Zone had referred the issue to the Ministry of Education and Youth, blaming the lack of such facilities on the paucity of funds. It said that no action had been taken to solve the problem over the past two years. “The Education Zone can only provide technical teams to repair the air conditions and attend to other needs,” added the official from the department.

Saif Salim Al Shamsi, Deputy Director of the Ajman Department of Municipality and Planning, said that as part of the department’s road maintenance and construction plan, the municipality had built roads leading to various schools to protect students’ health and help them reach school safely and on time.

The municipality has also instructed school administrations to clean water tanks by hiring tank cleaning and disinfection companies approved by the municipality.

Dr Mohammed Attia, Acting Director of the health section of the Ajman Municipality, said that the department in coordination with the Education Zone and the student health programme had formed a committee to select companies that would abide by health regulations to provide students with meals. These companies will be monitored by inspectors of the health section throughout the academic year.

Brigadier Ali Saeed Al Matroushi, Director of the traffic and accident section of the Ajman Traffic and Licensing Department, said that during the past two years, there were several road accidents that killed many school students. To curb traffic accidents caused by school buses and other vehicles during this academic year, the traffic department is annually carrying out traffic safety awareness programme to educate students about the importance of following safety procedures. Training classes and lectures on traffic regulations had already been organised for drivers of school buses.

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