Adec shuts down six villa schools in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Education Council will shut down six Indian-curriculum villa schools for not operating in buildings made for educational use.

ABU DHABI // Six villa schools are being shut down in Abu Dhabi for not operating in purpose-built buildings.

Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) cancelled the last remaining Indian-curriculum villa schools’ operating licences, which will be terminated at the end of the academic year.

“The closure of villa schools is part of an ongoing programme in line with Abu Dhabi Government’s plan to shut down all Abu Dhabi villa schools, and is an initiative managed by Adec to help encourage private schools to operate in purpose-built buildings which are consistent with quality and safety standards on lands allocated for education purposes,” said Hamad Al Dhaheri, executive director at Adec’s private schools and quality assurance division.

The schools that will close are Al Noor Indian Islamic School, Asian International Kindergarten, Leens Kindergarten & School, Wisdom High School, and two branches of Our Own English School. Students from Upper Wisdom, Leens and Al Noor Indian schools will be transferred to purpose-built schools across Abu Dhabi, Adec said on Monday.

Mr Al Dhaheri said the council had made sure students were enrolled in similar curricula schools at affordable fees.

His division has shut down 64 villa schools across the emirate since 2010 that followed curricula including British, American, Indian and Ministry of Education curricula.

After the Indian schools’ closures, eight villa schools will remain and are due to close by July. They are Al Murroj Scientific School, Elite Private School, Abu Dhabi International School, Modern Private School, ABC School, International Academic Private School, Al Dana Kindergarten and Al Ryan Private School, Adec says.

“It is a huge accomplishment to announce that all Indian curriculum school students in the emirate of Abu Dhabi have now been relocated to purpose-built schools that promote a safe school environment, and include facilities that will encourage students to take on various activities during and after school hours,” said Mr Al Dhaheri.