The Ruler of Sharjah has banned members of the public from hiring school swimming pools and other facilities outside of class hours.
The announcement, made by Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi on Sharjah Radio yesterday, comes after it was discovered that people were being charged about Dh200 to use swimming pools and other facilities at some schools in Sharjah once classes had finished.
Sheikh Sultan was "outraged" when he heard the news.
"We found out these schools were being rented out to people, who were not pupils ... in Dibba and Khor Fakkan," he said. "This means germs were left for our children who used them the next day."
He ordered that all schools and school facilities should only be used by pupils.
Sharjah has 27 school sports clubs and stadiums, with 18 available for boys and nine for girls.
"We want to help keep them [the pupils] busy and build their bodies," said Sheikh Sultan. "It is not possible to rent them [the pools] out to people on the streets to bring in sickness."
He said while the Ministry of Education did not know the facilities were being rented out, he believed at least one official was aware and would be dealt with.