Abu Dhabi to open six new schools catering to 7,700 students

Abu Dhabi will be opening six new schools across the emirate in September, adding capacity for 7, 700 elementary level students in the upcoming academic year, the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) announced on Tuesday.

The new schools in Abu Dhabi will include kindergarden and C1 levels (Grades 1 – 5) and are expected to be handed over to ADEC by early August of this year.

ADEC said that the schools have been “carefully located” within residential communities to reduce the travel distance for students.

The first school in Mohammed bin Zayed city will include 12 KG classes and 60 C1 classes, accommodating 240 and 1,500 students respectively. The school facility will feature administration areas, dining halls, multi-purpose rooms, a library, laboratories, music rooms and an Abu Dhabi Health Authority certified clinic.

Similarly, the second school in Shakhbut has 12 KG classes for 240 students and 50 C1 classes for 1,250 students.

Al Ain will see three new schools in Al Yahar, Al Shuaiba and Ain Al Faydah, with their own educational buildings and facilities. The schools will accommodate a total of 1,490 students in 12 KG and 50 C1 classes each.

The sixth school is located in Al Qou, also offering room for 240 KG students in 12 classes, and 1,000 spots for C1 students in 40 classes.

The ADEC announcement also noted that “all new school buildings are equipped with high-end furniture and advanced educational resources.”

The buildings are billed as being ‘eco-friendly’ and aim to reduce water and electricity consumption through installed environment optimal solutions, insulating materials, a daytime lighting system and an eco-friendly A/C system, the report added.

Director general of ADEC, Ali Al Nuaimi, said that the new school projects fall under ADEC’s Future School Programme.

The programme aims to establish schools that comply with international standards and practices.

It also aims to provide a “positive learning environment”.

This will be achieved through designing educational facilities that will cater to the need of every student, most importantly those with special needs, added Al Nuaimi.

“Future Schools are the first schools in the emirate to comply with the UPC’s Estidama sustainability standards, achieving two-pearl rating certification from Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, which improves local material use and encourages resources and waste minimisation,” he added.

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