ADEC Closes 'Risky' School

ADEC confirmed yesterday they will be closing the Western Model Private School at the end of this academic year.

ADEC announced the closure of the Indian curriculum school which currently houses 502 students due to concerns over the building's safety.

Hamad Al Dhaheri, executive director of ADEC Private Schools and Quality Assurance department said, “the school closed because the physical condition of the building is quite risky and we informed the operator one year ago to do improvements and unfortunately, he was not co-operating, so we had to close it.”

The ADEC inspection report noted in 2014 that the buildings were, 'very unsatisfactory,' then, according to the National, a further technical report in February 2015 stated, “the structural condition of the school remains ‘very poor,’ the structural deteriorations of the school is ‘very severe’ and the safety hazard of the school is ‘extreme.’"

The report highlighted extreme corrosion of the 30 year old building, with the strength of structural elements 'severely below standard.' However, the report went on to say the school was safe for use for a further year before being considered too dangerous for further use.

ADEC said they notified parents last July that the school would not be open for the 2016-17 academic year and that parents should find alternative education options.