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29 March 2024

Low-fee community school among 6 new Indian schools by 2015

Published
By Sneha May Francis

For Indian parents struggling to find a slot for their wards in one of the UAE’s Indian curriculum schools, here’s some good news.

Indian ambassador M.K. Lokesh has announced that six new Indian schools will open in Abu Dhabi by 2015 and will accommodate 15,000 pupils.

This step is set to benefit many students who have been displaced following the closure of villa schools in the emirate by regulator Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) as it did not fall in line with its “safety and quality” standards.

Following requests from many parents, the Indian diplomat he has decided to step in and work out a solution after consulting Adec.

“They have been very cooperative and we are trying to work out a solution,” Lokesh told Emirates 24|7.

He said he even requested Adec to delay the closure until the new Indian schools were ready.

Two Indian schools– Abu Dhabi Indian Islahi Islamic School and Little Flower Private School – have been closed over the last few weeks.

With the fees of villa schools much lower that most private schools, Indian parents have complained that private education is not within their budget.

“We could afford the villa school fees but I don’t think I can manage to send them to private schools that offer the Indian curriculum,” said D Kumar, a parent.

In fact, Adec, which has been phasing out villa schools since 2009 is also helping out parents secure seats for their children in private schools, and some at discounted rates.

“The limited number of seats at discounted fees are available in International Community School LLC- Branch 1, GEMS Winchester School LLC AND Summit International School LLC,” said Adec’s Hamad Al Dhaheri, Executive Director Private Schools and Quality Assurance Sector.

Lokesh meanwhile claimed he was aware that private education is expensive and proposed that a non-profit sharing school run by a board of prominent community members at a low fee – Abu Dhabi Indian School (ADIS) – could be a possible solution.

“Setting up more community schools could be the solution,” he added.

ADIS had secured land in the emirate, and should open by 2015 and accommodate 3,450 pupils, the ambassador said.

“I am trying to expedite the construction of the schools and I have written to Indian business community people,” added Lokesh.

Some of the prominent businessmen he has consulted are Dr B R Shetty of New Medical Centre Group, M A Yousuf Ali of LuLu Group and Ganpath Singhvi, director at Al Nasser Holdings.

Adec had announced that 15 villa schools will be shut down by the end of the current academic year, bringing down the numbers from 70 in 2009 to 20 in 2014.

“Some villa schools have been unable to demonstrate that they are serious and capable of building new schools and so unfortunately as the industry regulator, Adec has been forced to take action and close these villa schools,” explained Al Dhaheri.