8 Abu Dhabi schools to get government makeover

Eight schools in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain are set to have a full makeover courtesy of the Abu Dhabi government. The government general services company Musanada has signed four contracts with local construction companies on behalf of the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) to carry out the renovation work, which is due to last till July. The interior and exterior work to upgrade the school facilities will bring them in line with Adec’s new stringent quality guidelines, Musanada said in a press release. “The contract scope covers the replacement and refurbishment of the schools’ heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, lighting, toilets, sanitation and infrastructure. It also involves the development of new scientific laboratories and educational areas, and the building of multipurpose and administrative offices.” The schools will also focus on facilities for students with special needs, including work on elevators, private bathrooms and ramps, while there will be “communal areas” built to accommodate Adec’s push for community-based education. Musanada said the refurb will use environmental-friendly lighting and reduced electrical power consumption for air conditioning. “Musanada is keen to complete the refurbishment project within the given time and budget, just as it has completed similar projects in the past...we will ensure that these projects are undertaken with a commitment towards excellent quality within the budget to serve our citizens as set out by the government in the Plan Abu Dhabi 2030,” Musanada’s Build Projects Services director Muna Al Qubaisi said. Adec School Services Division Manager Khaled Al Ansari said Adec strategies focused on providing students with an attractive learning environment that helped develop their personal skills and enhanced creativity. “This project aims at upgrading the facilities of public schools across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in line with the best international practices and standards,” he added. A similar renovation project involving eight schools in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain was undertaken in 2010 and 2011, with Musanada stating it had managed to get the schools to open on time despite a short timeframe of eighty-five days to complete all refurbishing activities. Source: khaleej times