AL GHARBIA - Expatriate students can now get admission in government schools in the towns where private schools do not exist or where seats are not available in private schools.
A decision to this effect was taken by the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) after Khaleej Times highlighted the issue of 870 expatriate boys and girls in the Western Region, who were left in the lurch following the closure of four private schools.
Dr Mogheer Al Khaeeli, Director of Abu Dhabi Education Council, has ordered all government schools in the region to accept and register the children of expatriates.
The management of the education zone, too, has been ordered to ensure admission for all national and expatriate students in the new academic year, which begins on Sunday.
There were 11 private schools in the Western Region with 3,645 male and female students last year, before four private schools — Rawda Madinat Zayed, Al Ruwais, Al Sila and Al Marfa — decided to shut down this year. The Western Region has 51 government schools.
The parents of the students have hailed the decision of ADEC. Dr. Sayyid Al Manzalawi, whose children study in Rawda Madinat Zayed, said the decision of the council had brought joy to hundreds of families in the Western Region.Ayman Hassan, another parent, too, expressed happiness and thanked Khaleej Times for taking the initiative to help solve the problem.
By Latifa Jaber