Education authorities in Abu Dhabi have announced four new low-cost schools will open in the emirate by next year as part of a major drive to widen access to learning.
Expansion plans will also be rolled out for two existing schools as part of the initiative, which will increase the pupil capacity at affordable schools in the capital to 19,522.
The four new schools will follow British, American, Indian and Ministry of Education curricula, officials confirmed.
The Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has announced that American National Private School, which will follow the US curriculum, will open its doors this year, while Al Basma Private School, a British curriculum school, will increase its pupil population.
Another three schools will open in 2021 and while one more school will be expanded in 2022.
The average tuition fees will be roughly Dh10,000 for those following the Indian curriculum while the average tuition fees at the US and UK schools will be about Dh20,000 to Dh30,000.
“The aim is to increase the number of affordable private schools in Abu Dhabi and to ensure all residents have access to schools with high quality of education with reasonable and affordable tuition fees,” said an ADEK spokesperson.
The schools will be located across Abu Dhabi and will welcome pupils from all nationalities.
In 2018, Abu Dhabi launch a new model of private schools that would see a collaboration between the public and private sectors, with annual school fees much lower than those currently charged in the emirate.
At the time, parents welcomed the new schools, but had said that reduced fees should not lead to lower standards of education.
In 2019, ADEK had opened three affordable private schools in Abu Dhabi, International Community School, Liwa International and Future Leaders International, with a total capacity of 2,700.
In Al Ain, Bhavans Pearl Wisdom School and Beacon House Private School, offered 1,936 seats, while in Al Dhafra, Al Hazem Private School had 720 seats.
Affordable schools in Abu Dhabi have mixed classes and welcome pupils from kindergarten to grade 12.
© The National
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