Al Worood Private Academy will not reopen. Despite the overturning of a judicial verdict that ordered the school to be closed – therefore leaving open the possibility that the school could be reprieved – Abu Dhabi Education Council issued a statement declaring there would be no second act. The school will remain closed.
Considering the breaches by Al Worood of the rules and regulations set by Adec, it is hardly surprising that the education authority has taken such a firm stand on its decision to close the school.
Even before the tragic death of Nizaha Aalaa, a three-year-old who died of heat exhaustion after being locked in a school bus last year, there were offences by the school. The authority has clearly decided tough punishment would put other schools on notice and deter further negligence.
Yet, looking at the bigger picture, it might be prudent to take other factors into account when making a final decision. There is, after all, a shortage of school places across Abu Dhabi emirate, but particularly in the capital. Other schools have been found for the 1,900 pupils affected by the closure at Al Worood, but Abu Dhabi is a growing city and pressures on places will only increase. A recent Adec report shows that the emirate has to create an additional 70,000 places in private schools by 2020. The closure of Al Worood school will contribute to the shortage.
The school also has significant facilities and a central location. Even if key staff had to be replaced, it would be a shame if the whole facility had to be shut down.
One solution, then, would be for Adec to explore the possibility of handing the school over to another established school operator – this could be a company in the private sector – or indeed turning the facility into a public or community school. The education authority can continue to run the school’s financial and administrative affairs in the meantime to facilitate the transition and make sure that teachers and pupils are not negatively affected.
Certainly the safety of pupils must be paramount. We completely understand the anger that followed Nizaha’s tragic case. Yet it seems self-defeating to shutter the entire school when it could, with new staff and administrators, play a role in the future education of more children in the city.
