Abu Dhabi's villa schools will have to close by 2013

The deadline for the capital's 50 remaining villa schools to close has been moved forward a year to 2013.

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ABU DHABI // The deadline for the capital's 50 remaining villa schools to close has been moved forward a year to 2013, the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) and Abu Dhabi Municipality announced yesterday.

Citing health and safety risks, Adec and the municipality said all schools operating in villas must buildnew structures and relocate to them or close by the deadline.

Adec ordered six villa schools to close in June last year after inspections revealed severe health and safety risks and violations. Since then, 15 more have been closed; the remaining institutionseducate more than 30,000 pupils.

The schools that remain open had been proactive in searching for options, said Yousif al Sheryani, the schools and quality assurance executive director at Adec.

"We encourage villa school operators to work co-operatively with Adec and to engage in the official licensing process to acquire approval to operate in appropriate school facilities," Mr al Sheryani said.