Oman- New building of French school inaugurated in Airport Heights

1/20/2016 1:30:13 AM

(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat-

The French School of Muscat Lycee Francais de Mascate (LFM) opened its first dedicated building in Airport Heights on Tuesday.

The school has been functioning in Oman since 1979. The design of the school building by an Omani SME 23 Degrees North has been described as a 'precedent' for the role of SMEs in the country's economic growth.

'The new building modern and functional will allow LFM to pursue its development by providing a better work environment to an increasing number of students and to the teaching and administrative teams' H E Roland Dubertrand Ambassador of France to Oman said at the opening ceremony.

Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi secretary general in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also attended the event. H E Dubertrand said the school exemplifies the 'excellent' relationship between France and Oman in culture and education.

Land for the school was granted on a 20 year lease. LFM is classified as an international school by Oman's Ministry of Education. It operates under France's Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE) which oversees a network of 494 French schools in 136 countries. AEFE provided 25 per cent of the funding (720000) for the building. Jean Paul Negrel deputy director AEFE said that French schools are 'powerful' vectors of the Francophonie and 'irreplaceable' instruments of French influence.

'Our schools abroad are major assets to the French community and the companies operating at the international level' he said. The Omani firm 23 Degrees North beat three large international companies to win the contract. Nadia Maqbool director 23 Degrees North described it as a 'courageous' decision by the French Embassy.

Construction for the school lasted from June 2014 to September 2015 when it opened for the new school year. It has enrolled 300 students from KG to Grade 12. Around half of the students are French nationals and the rest are of other nationalities according to officials. The school premises include science laboratories art rooms a library common facilities a swimming pool cafeteria and a multi-sport pitch.

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