Adec makes changes for new school year

ABU DHABI — In preparation for the 2012-2013 academic year, the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) has opened two new Cycle 1 (Grades 1-5) schools and three new kindergartens, evacuated six old school buildings, cancelled seven school names, and introduced a number of changes at public schools across the emirate.

According to an Adec statement on Monday, Dr Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Director-General of the council, decreed for six schools to be merged into three, eight to be feminised or partly feminised and nine schools to have more enrolees and some of their students redistributed.

A Cycle 1 school for girls will be opened in Khalifa City A in Abu Dhabi to be called KCA School while a new Cycle 1 school for boys in Al Ain will be called Al Bayraq School. The three new KGs include Al Aryam KG in Khalifa City A, and Al Yahar KG and Zakher KG (named after their respective areas) in Al Ain.

Six schools will be merged into three from the new year, as per directives of Dr Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili. — Wam file photo

With the opening of these schools, 642 Cycle 1 students from Al Aryam School will be transferred to KCA School. Al Aryam School will be cancelled by Adec. In Al Ain, 340 students from Al Masoudi and 328 from Al Jimi will be transferred to the new Al Bayraq School. Of those merging, Al Habab bin Al Mondhir School (224 students) and Al Falahiya School (554 students) will merge under Falahiya School in Al Samha, Abu Dhabi, while Hafsa bint Omar school (275 girl students) will merge with Al Montaha School (428 girl students) to become Al Montaha School in Mohammad bin Zayed City.

In Al Ain, Oud Al Tawba C1 School (439 male students) will merge with Ibn Khaldoon School (350 students) under the name Ibn Khaldoun School. Schools to be feminised or partly feminised in Abu Dhabi include Omair bin Yousef (278 students), Sas Al Nakhl (453 students) and Hamoodah bin Ali (377 students). In Al Ain those that will be feminised are Abu Bakr Al Siddique (358 students) and Al Shaheen (524 students), while those to be partly feminised comprise Al Sadara (239 students), Al Nahyanniah (322 students), and Al Ain School (492 students).

Nine schools in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Gharbia will have more enrolees next year and have some of their students redistributed.

In Abu Dhabi, Darweesh bin Karam School in Bain Al Jesrain (418 male students) will accommodate Grade 6-12 students instead of the previous Grades 7-12. Sas Al Nakhl School in Khalifa City A (453 male students) will have students from Grades 1-5 instead of Grades 1-6, the Grade 6 students will be distributed to Cycle 2 (Grades 6-9) schools according to their residence.

Al Falahia School in Al Samha (544 students) will have co-ed from Grades 1-12 instead of Grades 7-12 as previous. Al Asayel School in Khalifa City A (471 female students) will become Cycle 2 from Grades 4-9. Al Montaha School in Mohammad bin Zayed City (428 students) will have co-ed from Grades 6-12 instead of Grades 10-12.

In Al Ain, Al Sariyah in Sweihan (340 students) will have co-ed classes in KG-Grade 1 and female only classes in Grades 2-12. Al Mesk Kindergarten (307 students) will be transferred to the new Al Jimi Kindergarten.

In Al Gharbia, meanwhile, Grade 5 students promoted to Grade 6 (549 students) in Gayathi School will stay in the same school as the school will have up to sixth grade instead of the previous Grades 1-5. Al Ibtikar school (312 students) will also accommodate Grade 7-12 students this academic year instead of Grades 6-12.

Furthermore, Dr Mugheer has ordered the evacuation and cancellation of the names of Hafsah bint Omar and Al Habbab bin Al Monzer in Abu Dhabi, and Al Jimi, Al Masoodi, Oud Al Tawba schools and Al Mesk KG in Al Ain. The name of Al Aryam School in Abu Dhabi will also be cancelled.

olivia@khaleejtimes.com