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School ACs not serviced on time

The management of Dubai Educational Zone has expressed resentment over the defective work done by the company charged with servicing the air-conditioners of the schools and in some other schools no maintenance was made at all.

Officials at the zone regretted the appalling conditions and the suffering of students and teaching staff due to the situation as air-conditioners are working less than 25 per cent of their capacity.

In a statement following the intensive visits made by the officials to the schools, Dubai Educational Zone said the problem was due to the delay in commencing the maintenance works.

"The bodies concerned at the Ministry of Education and Youth had signed a maintenance contract with a company to service a total of 37,835 air-conditioners at the schools in Dubai and the Northern Emirates," the statement said .

The zone criticised the decision to award the the air-conditioner servicing contract to only one company. It argues that it will be difficult for one firm to service and repair such a huge number of air-conditioners.

The statement, however, said in fact the ministry had signed two contracts, the first would take 90 days beginning on August 26 under which the second party (the company) had been asked to maintain and repair 37,128 air-conditioners, while the second contract calls for the servicing of 707 air-conditioners in nine months from September 1.

The statement said the decision of the officials was contrary to the instructions of Dr Ali Abdul Aziz Al Sharhan, Minister of Education and Youth and Dr Jamal Al Mohiri, Under-secretary of the ministry, who insist on creating a healthy atmosphere to begin a better academic year.

The zone management attributed the failure to the indifference of the bodies concerned at the ministry in inviting bona fide contractors and to announce tenders and call for tenders at an early date.

The statement also blamed the ministry for not coordinating with the educational zones and striking the agreement with only one company to service the air-conditioners for six educational zones. It called for holding the officials accountable for such mistake which is committed every year.

• UAE