Khaleej Times

Enrol kids online in public schools

- Ismail Sebugwaawo ismail@khaleejtim­es.com

abu dhabi — Enrolling children in Abu Dhabi’s public schools has been made easier as parents can now register their children online, without visiting schools.

The Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) on Wednesday said that they have introduced a new enrollment process starting with the academic year 2017-2018, which allows parents to register children online from anywhere through the Adec’s website.

Adec officials announced at a Press conference on Wednesday that registrati­on for new Emirati children for kindergart­en to Grade 12 will be from February 19 to March 17, and for expatriate children from March 19 to 23.

Officials said about 10,000 new students are expected to join public schools across Abu Dhabi during the next academic year with up to 20 per cent of these expected to be expatriate­s. Mohammad Salem Al Dhaheri, Adec’s School Operations Executive Director, said the Adec was keen on providing parents with accurate and detailed informatio­n regarding the school registrati­on process. “Schools are ready to assist parents in completing the registrati­on process online on Adec’s website www.adec.ac.ae using a student’s Emirates ID via an ID card reader,” said Al Dhaheri. “This will allow parents to register their children from anywhere.”

Humaid Abdullah, Adec’s Students Affairs Division Manager, said: “Parents should register their children early so that adequate supplies could be ordered and plans could be finalised in time before the start of the next school year.

“We want parents to make use of the online registrati­on system because it is easy and will save their time.” For online registrati­on of Emirati pupils, parents are required to provide these documents: Original copies of a student’s Emirates ID and the parent’s Emirates ID and proof of residence such as a lease contract, property ownership or electricit­y bill.

The online system will show parents the school nearest their home and how many seats are left. “Parents can only register their children in schools located near their homes,” said Abdulla. “For parents who are unable to find a place for their children in the school of choice, the system will show them a list of schools in their proximity and with available places from which they could choose.”

Registerin­g for the waiting list will no longer be required. Parents registerin­g expatriate pupils in public schools require to submit their Emirates ID through the ID reader, according to available vacancies and student density. The total number of expat students enrolled should not exceed 20 per cent of the total number in each public school and in each classroom, according to Adec.

Registrati­on for public schools is free for Emiratis. Expat pupils must be able to speak and write in Arabic and have an average academic score of 90 per cent. There is also an annual fee of Dh6,000 for expat students. The minimum age requiremen­t for children joining KG 1 is four by December 31, 2017. Those enrolling in Grade1 must be six years old by the end of this year.

 ??  ?? Officials said about 10,000 new students are expected to join public schools across Abu Dhabi during the next academic year.
Officials said about 10,000 new students are expected to join public schools across Abu Dhabi during the next academic year.

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