Displaced students in Abu Dhabi to get new school

Parents of the students of the Indian Islahi Islamic School in the Capital can heave a sigh of relief as solution has finally been found for the displaced students.

by

Olivia Olarte-Ulherr

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Published: Fri 14 Mar 2014, 12:12 AM

Last updated: Fri 3 Apr 2015, 5:27 PM

A new school will be opened to accommodate the over 1,400 students who were previously at risk of getting displaced with the closing of the school by the end of March.

The school principal, Muhsin K., told Khaleej Times that he was informed by the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) a few weeks ago that an old government school building will be allocated for his students and those from the Little Flower Private School, which will also close at the same time, for the new academic year under a different management.

With Adec instruction, he sent a circular to parents informing them of the update. The Private School and Quality Assurance (PQSA) sector at Adec has confirmed that a new Indian school (CBSE curriculum) will open in mid-April at the Mohammed bin Zayed City with a capacity to accommodate up to 2,000 students.

In a statement, it also confirmed that it will be “affordable for parents” but that “full details will be released soon.”

“We got the circular from the school about 10 days ago that Adec was making arrangements with a new investor, but we don’t have an update until now,” said Ramesh Gopal whose daughter will be joining Grade 12 next month.

Gopal was one among the parents of the more than 100 students in Grade 11 who had conveyed their concern that the closure of the school would disrupt their children’s studies and their preparation for the CBSE national examination next year.

“We cannot simply go anywhere else as no school in Abu Dhabi or the UAE will accept a Grade 12 student. In our case, it’s very simple, either (Adec) can arrange for a new school or (our children) cannot study,” Gopal said. He was happy that the option was not the latter. “This is definitely good news,” expressed Mohammed J. whose daughter is also joining the Grade 12. Mohammed has approached other Indian schools but to no success. All Indian schools in Abu Dhabi are full and cannot accommodate extra students. Principal Muhsin K. was very pleased with the outcome and said he was happy to share the good news to parents.

“I have been following-up with Adec and I’m glad that a decision has been made that eased parents’ and students’ concern.

It is particularly important that the new school will follow the same curriculum and be made affordable. I’m sure much hike will not be there,” he said.

Parents currently pay between Dh300-Dh400 per month for their kids’ education at the Indian Islahi Islamic School.

The Adec said previously that it is putting a number of solutions to increase capacity in order to accommodate students from closed villa schools. In particular, it is “working closely with investors from the Indian community committed to (helping) their community to ensure the continuity of their students.”

olivia@khaleejtimes.com


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