Aldar takes some squeeze out of classrooms

Prominent Abu Dhabi developer opens two schools and plans a third to ease demand for places in private institutions.

ABU DHABI // One of the largest development companies in the capital has eased the strain on the education system by opening two more schools this year.

Aldar Academies, the education arm of Aldar Properties, has opened Al Ain International School as well as Al Bateen Secondary School. Each can cater for more than 1,000 pupils.

Last week, the head of Aldar Academies announced it would open a new campus in 2014 for Al Mushrif School, which is operating out of Al Bateen campus.

The new schools join three other British curriculum schools operated by the group with a combined student body of 3,000 primary and secondary school pupils.

The schools fill a gap in the market, said Mohammed Al Mubarak, the deputy chief executive of Aldar and chairman of the academies.

"We want to increase the level of education and try to bring new systems to Abu Dhabi," said Mr Al Mubarak.

"Right now all our schools follow the British system but moving forward we aim to bring in new curricula like the International Baccalaureate and the American system."

He said the number of families migrating to the emirate increased the need to set up good schools.

The Abu Dhabi Education Council says demand for school places is expected to grow by 5 per cent annually over the next few years.

Jim Harvey, the managing director of the academies, said the biggest squeeze for places was in primary schools.