Education authorities in Abu Dhabi have announced that four new low-cost schools will open in the emirate by 2021 as part of a drive to widen access to education.
Two existing premises will be expanded as part of the “affordable” schools initiative, a public-private partnership to provide schooling at lower than average fees.
“The aim is to increase the number of affordable private schools in Abu Dhabi and to ensure all residents have access to schools with a high quality of education with reasonable and affordable tuition fees,” an official from the Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek) said.
American National Private School will open its doors this year, while the British-curriculum Al Basma Private School will increase its pupil population by opening a second site.
Of the other new schools, one will follow the Ministry of Education curriculum and the other will be Indian.
Many private schools in the UAE start with fees of Dh40,000 per year rising to Dh100,000 for the top ranked half dozen.
School fee contributions from employers have also been reduced in recent years, leaving more parents to foot the bill themselves.
Tuition will cost roughly Dh10,000 for those following the Indian curriculum and about Dh20,000 to Dh30,000 for US and UK schools. The move will increase to 19,500 the pupil capacity at such schools.
Three more schools will open in 2021 and another will be expanded in 2022.
In 2019, Adek 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 Beaconhouse Private School offered 1,936 places, while in Al Dhafra, Al Hazem Private School had 720 seats.
Affordable schools have mixed classes and admit pupils from age four to 18. Pupils of all nationalities can be enroled.
When the initiative was launched in 2018, parents welcomed the new model, but said reduced fees should not lead to lower standards of education.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Director: Joseph Kosinski
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
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Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
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