Aldar Academies plans to build and operate 20 schools within the next five years both within its own communities and elsewhere in the emirate, said a top company official.

“Providing world-class education for our own developments and for the greater Abu Dhabi has always been a major pillar of Aldar’s strategy.  Our ambitious plans will go a long way in establishing Aldar as a leading integrated developer with strong commitment to its own clients and Abu Dhabi,” said Ronald Stephen Barrott, Aldar Properties CEO.

He was speaking at a ceremony to mark the opening of Al Yasmina, the second international school under Aldar Academy's wing.

With Dh30 million ($8.16 million) invested in academic resources for a state-of-the-art learning facility, Al Yasmina offers its young population world-class education and superb learning environment, Barrott noted.

Al Yasmina is compliant with Abu Dhabi Educational Council’s criteria for design, room size and other learning criteria. Al Yasmina is equipped with a wide range of facilities essential to provide the best in education and extra curricular activities.

It is the second school to be established under the umbrella of Aldar Academies. The first was the Pearl Primary School, which opened in 2007 in downtown Abu Dhabi.

'We are aiming to build and operate 20 new schools with a capacity for 20,000 students in Abu Dhabi over the next 5 years,' Barrott remarked.

Built at a cost of $40.8 million, the British curriculum Al Yasmina caters to children from foundation 1 to year 9 for its inaugural years, and in subsequent years will expand to year 13.

The school has a capacity for 2,000 pupils, and boasts one of the best teacher to pupil ratios 1:24 for the kindergarten and primary level, and 1:20 for the secondary, he added.  

Along with the core subjects, students will also be given lessons in French, Arabic, and Islamic studies in a bid to inculcate cross-cultural understanding.

The school provides for excellent specialist facilities, which involve extra tutoring and will also provide additional learning support specialists to ensure that the individual learning needs of pupils are met. 

Swimming pools, a gymnasium, two junior halls, an activity studio, two Astroturf pitches and recreational areas are available for the students to contribute to their team playing skills and necessary physical education for better health.

There are also separate and secure play areas for each of the different school stages. The Design Technology Department provides specialist areas for learning activities relating to food preparation, resistant materials and electronics.

The school further provides for exclusive performance spaces like an auditorium, amphitheatre, drama studio and recital rooms.

The infrastructure is equipped with extensive libraries, science laboratories, a well-equipped multipurpose hall, vast outdoor playing areas with a range of apparatus for all ages, and a dining area.  The entire school is networked.

The school is provided with an in-house cafeteria where a variety of healthy and nutritious meals will be served.

Optimum care has been taken to provide for balanced meals keeping in mind the varied age of children in the school.-TradeArabia News Service