The facilities were often basic and the hours long, but the pay-offs were immense. Long before the UAE had branches of global schools and universities, pioneering teachers put down foundations that stood the test of time. They ensured pupils did not have to leave the country and they educated generations of youngsters. To mark the UAE's 50th anniversary, The National has profiled some of these schools.
St Joseph's School opened in an Abu Dhabi that few can remember.
Founded in 1967, its classrooms were once among a handful of concrete buildings on the water's edge at Abu Dhabi's Corniche.
Sheikh Shakhbut, the then Ruler of Abu Dhabi, had granted them the land and for 16 years it was fondly known as the school on the beach.
It started with just 50 pupils but now more than 1,200 study at its modern campus in Mushrif adjacent to St Joseph's Catholic Church.
It was just a small house near the ocean
Sister Carmen
“It was a small house near the ocean,” said the school's principal, Sister Carmen, 54. “We had just 50 students.”
Teachers at the private, Indian-curriculum Catholic school believe low costs, strong values and solid education have kept them going strong for more than five decades. St Joseph’s annual tuition fees are Dh5,000.
“This is a church school,” said Sister Carmen. “It is value-based, affordable and offers a good education. The values have not changed. Everyone who comes to the school should not be concerned about the fees.”
The growth has mirrored the growth of the country. The school has progressed, improved teaching methods, kept pace with the times and modernised the campus.
The old Mushrif building was demolished in 2017 and, today, St Joseph's has a gym, auditorium, an additional library and laboratories.
“Although we didn’t have all these facilities at the time, parents still wanted this school,” said Sister Carmen.
A Christian school that has been in a Muslim country since the 60s, its teachers were among the first to recognise how accepting and tolerant the UAE is.
Pope Francis visited St Joseph's church during his landmark visit in 2017, underlining the spirit of tolerance.
“Whenever I walk around the parks at night, I always pray and say I wish my country was like this,” said Sister Carmen, who is from India.
“We are expatriates but we don’t feel that. I mean this from my heart.”
The sense that the UAE and school are home are shared by the school's staff.
Shanthi Thinaharan, 57, has taught at the school for three decades. “I have seen five principals,” she says with a chuckle.
“I never had an idea of going anywhere. Whatever I needed I had here. I was happy to teach the young ones to sing and that acceptance encouraged me to stay here.”
Ms Thinaharan does not remember the Corniche property but has heard the stories of the good old days.
“I wasn’t there at the time but my husband’s family has seen it,” she said. “The school and the church used to be on the Corniche right where the St Regis hotel is now. The community grew and they needed more space for the school and the church.”
Her father-in-law came to the UAE when the only building on the Corniche was the Gray Mackenzie building, she said.
She clearly remembers her father-in-law boasting about her taking up a job with the school.
“He was very delighted when I joined as a teacher. He said, 'Do you know, our school is the first school here'.”
“Abu Dhabi has grown so much. The Corniche has become so beautiful. At the time the buildings were quaint and beautiful but they have grown so much. I have grown with the county.”
Chemistry and mathematics teacher, Mariamma Rameshkumar has been with the school for more than 33 years. The 63-year-old was awarded the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award in 1989 for teaching excellence.
“Abu Dhabi is excellent, you know why?” she asked. “because I came in 1985 and I’ve seen how it developed.”
“At that time it wasn’t as populated and it was quite peaceful.
“Wherever we reach, if we are humble then we will shine and that’s what the UAE is showing us.”
FIXTURES
All kick-off times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Sevilla v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Athletic Bilbao v Real Sociedad (7.15pm)
Eibar v Valencia (9.30pm)
Atletico Madrid v Alaves (11.45pm)
Sunday
Girona v Getafe (3pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7.15pm)
Las Palmas v Espanyol (9.30pm)
Barcelona v Deportivo la Coruna (11.45pm)
Monday
Malaga v Real Betis (midnight)
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 2
Rashford 28', Martial 72'
Watford 1
Doucoure 90'
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
if you go
The flights
Emirates have direct flights from Dubai to Glasgow from Dh3,115. Alternatively, if you want to see a bit of Edinburgh first, then you can fly there direct with Etihad from Abu Dhabi.
The hotel
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Located in the heart of Mackintosh's Glasgow, the Dakota Deluxe is perhaps the most refined hotel anywhere in the city. Doubles from Dh850
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Events and tours
There are various Mackintosh specific events throughout 2018 – for more details and to see a map of his surviving designs see glasgowmackintosh.com
For walking tours focussing on the Glasgow Style, see the website of the Glasgow School of Art.
More information
For ideas on planning a trip to Scotland, visit www.visitscotland.com
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m
Winner: Arjan, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Jap Nazaa, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi.
6pm: Al Ruwais Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 1,200m
Winner: RB Lam Tara, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinal.
6.30pm: Shadwell Gold Cup Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: AF Sanad, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi.
7pm: Shadwell Farm Stallions Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Patrick Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Dubai Canal, Harry Bentley, Satish Seemar.
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
SPEC%20SHEET
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White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Gifts exchanged
- King Charles - replica of President Eisenhower Sword
- Queen Camilla - Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
- Donald Trump - hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
- Melania Trump - personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag
When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
