School in UAE merges two branches temporarily due to coronavirus

Sharjah - Move will see 546 students from the school's Al Layyah branch shift to its flagship ASCS Maliha Road branch.

The American School of Creative Science (ASCS) at Al Layyah in Sharjah will be temporarily merged with its flagship facility, the American School of Creative Science (ASCS) on Maliha Road, for one full academic year from August 30, 2020.
The operational changes at the school was announced by private educational establishment Bukhatir Education Advancement and Management International (BEAM) that runs the schools on Thursday.
School management said that the decision is taken due to the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on several families and was taken in close consultation with the Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA).
The move will see 546 students from the school's Al Layyah branch shift to its flagship ASCS Maliha Road branch that currently has 3,046 students. These will include students from KG1 to Grade 12.
Reassuring parents about the move, the school authorities said that the move will have a minimum impact on children's education as the bigger campus will offer a complete American curriculum with high standard quality teaching.
Salah Bukhatir, chairman and CEO of BEAM, said: "The decision to amalgamate operations into one school campus was made after careful consideration of the current environment, which has impacted parents and businesses. Like all educational institutions across the UAE and indeed around the world, we as educators face challenges. Yet, it is our role and responsibility to find the best possible solutions to navigate these challenges in the interests of everyone, be they parents, children, or teachers.
He added: "For operational reasons, BEAM deemed it was the most practical solution to bring two of its nearby schools together on one bigger campus with additional facilities that will be able to accommodate more classes and children with ease. Our Creative Science Schools have pioneered and upheld the promotion of academic excellence for almost 20 years, underpinned by the moral upbringing of our children inspired by our faith, which makes it all the more important to ensure the continuity of education during these challenging times."
The American School at Al Layyah will close temporarily at the end of the summer term on July 2, 2020 following the completion of e-learning courses and structured timetables during the temporary lockdown of schools across the UAE.
saman@khaleejtimes.com

• Sharjah