(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Two new Indian schools are opening in the Capital by the next academic year - a welcome news for many families here who are struggling to find places for their children.
The Global Indian International School (GISS) is currently under construction while the first phase (KG-Grade 7) of Springdales School is expected to open by April 2016. GISS will be able accommodate 1,500 students while Springdales will have 2,500 pupils when fully operational (KG-Grade 12) by 2017.
Springdales School is a joint venture between the Bin Butti Group (BBG) and Goldline Group. The school is the second branch in the UAE. The first Springdales School opened in Dubai in 2013.
At the signing of the memorandum of understanding on Wednesday, T. P. Seetharam, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, said: "I believe the school will start next year; I wish it could start this year itself. Everyday I'm approached by Indian parents asking me to help with admission for their children."
He noted that on Tuesday, he received a petition from 160 parents to help them get admission for their kids at schools here.
Speaking to Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the signing of the MoU, Seetharam said the current growth rate of Indian students in Abu Dhabi is seven per cent every year.
"Adec (Abu Dhabi Education Council) last year allotted 17 plots of land for Indian schools, so that gives you an idea for the kind of demand that is there and how the government is trying to meet that demand," he pointed out.
Lack of space at Indian schools has been an ongoing dilemma for many years due to the number of children entering school age and more Indian families moving to Abu Dhabi for work. But this was exacerbated by the closure of villa schools. To ease the burden and provide smooth transition to students affected by the closures, the Adec has allocated old public school buildings for investors that are still in the process of constructing their own buildings. The Adec has also increased capacity in other schools.
Parents often have to subscribe to a "raffle draw" system where hundreds often apply for only a few seats. However, Seetharam was quick to point out that parents applying in multiple schools may somehow have created a false impression of the actual demand.
"There is no easy solution, it takes time. Already several schools have started and some are getting built. The problem will be solved (over time)."
Seetharam underscored the importance of building a "not-for profit" school for the Indian community noting that many families earn no more that Dh4,000 a month and cannot afford to pay high fees.
"I know that investing need(s) a lot of money" but if we invest in not-for-profit schools, you will get your investment back (although) you will not get a big profit back," he said, adding that whatever little profit will have to be reinvested back to the school. He called on entrepreneurs and well-meaning individuals "to be engaged in education as a service instead of an industry".
Seetharam also urged corporates to support deserving students whose parents cannot afford to send them to school to take them under their wing through scholarship programmes.
Spread over 30,000 sqm, Springdales School will be a premium school offering quality education and resources. The school is currently awaiting land allocation and construction permit from the Adec but it is expected to be built in Al Wathba. Tuition fees range from Dh20,000 to Dh25,000 per year.
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