Dubai, March 17: An affordable international standard Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum school will be open next year, the Indian High School (IHS) management announced.
The non-profit school is scheduled to open for admission in January 2011. The institution costing Dh100 million will be able to enroll at its full capacity of 3,000 students from the first year.
The fee structure will be announced after the approvals by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).
The foundation stone for the International Indian High School that will be operated by the board of trustees of the Indian High School in Dubai was placed by Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority on Monday, at Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO). The international curriculum that is being newly drawn up by the CBSE board will be offered at the school. It will include new subjects and options at par with global education standards. The academic focus will extend to IT, research and courses in areas such as nanotechnology.
“The syllabus will be designed to meet the needs of students who want to pursue their higher education in countries such as the US and UK,” said Mohan Valrani, chairman of IHS. The campus will also boast an amphitheater, cafeteria, gymnasium, swimming pool and a temperature controlled indoor sports complex. The campus will be wireless and classes will be equipped with technology including smart boards.
“At the moment parents have no choice when it comes to quality education at an affordable choice,” said Valrani.
“The school is the commitment of the Indian community to the future of Dubai.”
This year, IHS witnessed an overwhelming number of applications for admissions to their kindergarten section and despite increasing the capacity had to adopt the procedure of a lucky draw to decide on the new enrollments for the coming academic year.
The lack of space at Indian schools that cater to the lower middle class segment has become a challenge here.
The IHS is a popular choice for parents in Dubai because of it fee structure that ranges between Dh3000-6000 annually.
Valrani said the increasing demand at IHS had to be addressed. “It is really a shame to deny a place to so many children because we cannot accommodate the large numbers,” he said.
The event was attended by Dr Mohammed Al Zarouni, CEO of Silicon Oasis and Sajay Verma, Consul General of India.
Dr. Abdualla Al Karam, Director of KHDA said the opening of more schools will bolster the growth of communities such as the DSO. “Dubai is used to seeing new communities grow out of nothing, and it is very important that are built with facilities such as schools,” he said.“The IHS Dubai offers good quality of education…and we look forward to the same high standards at the new campus,” he said.—
–Agencies