School closed after providing ministry with false documents

The Ministry of Education has closed a private school after accusing its owners of resorting to an elaborate deception to keep their licence.

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AJMAN // The Ministry of Education has closed a private school after accusing its owners of resorting to an elaborate deception to keep their licence. The head of Ajman Education Zone said the school had received a series of warnings that it was in breach of regulations that required schools to be housed in suitable accommodation. Instead of complying with the law, said Obaid Saif al Matroushi, the school's owners had attempted to hoodwink officials.

"They provided false documents and used maps of a non-existing school, together with false pictures of the school under construction, for them to get a licence of the new academic year," said Mr Matroushi. When officials discovered the documents had been faked, they closed the school and called in the public prosecutor's department. An official from the public prosecutor's department confirmed it was looking at the case, but could not say when the school's administrators would appear in court.

Mr Matroushi said the ministry had received orders from Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid, the Crown Prince of Ajman, to tighten the regulations governing private schools and to issue licences only after ensuring sure that all requirements were met. "Following this order, the department has had several meetings to discuss the framework of monitoring both private and government schools to see that they adhere to the provisions of the state," said Mr Matroushi.

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