Fence, swim and throw at community schools

Experts from the Abu Dhabi Sports Council have teamed up with the Department of Education and Knowledge to offer children and their families extracurricular activities in community schools.

The government agencies yesterday signed an agreement to promote more sports and physical fitness among youngsters.

Adek operates 15 community schools with recreational facilities including swimming pools, gymnasiums and sports fields, which ADSC will use to host competitions and deliver after-school classes.

The community schools operate as public schools during the day but double as community centres at night.

“We have the know-how as Abu Dhabi Sports Council, they have the school facilities, so this memorandum of understanding enables us to use the facilities that they have to bring in students on their own time and train them with professional trainers,” said Maj Gen Mohammed Al Romaithi, ADSC deputy chairman.

“This will definitely increase their performance in school in general and also help to address obesity and diabetes problems.”

ADSC will start by offering after-school swimming, fencing and judo classes for pupils and their families who lives in the schools’ catchment areas. More sports will be added, said Maj Gen Al Romaithi.

The sports council will also organise evening and weekend sports competitions between community schools.

Dr Ali Al Nuaimi, Adek chairman, said the classes and competitions would help to strengthen the relationship between schools and their communities.

“The school in the evening will be like a community centre to serve the community in different aspects, and one of them involves the Abu Dhabi Sports Council,” said Dr Al Nuaimi. “It is enabling the school to play a different role related to integrating with the community.”

Since 2015, the authority has built or refurbished up to 15 community schools.

“Our plan over the next two years is to have about 50 community schools,” Dr Al Nuaimi said.

Adek and ADSC are also working to deliver sports and other after-school recreational programming during Ramadan, which is expected to be celebrated from midMay to mid-June.

More information about the schools, or registration for classes, is available at adek.abudhabi.ae or by calling 800 555.

The after-school classes and contests aim to strengthen links between schools and their communities