Abu Dhabi school shortage leaves 1,000 pupils without places

An estimated 1,000 pupils are still without school places in Abu Dhabi, according to KB Murali, president of the Kerala Social Centre in Abu Dhabi despite Abu Dhabi Education Council's (Adec) allowing a few schools to increase class sizes, The National has reported. Adec plans to shut existing schools operating out of villas by 2012, roughly accommodating half of the 21,000 Indian pupils in Abu Dhabi and Musaffah. Out of 12 villas, one will be closing this year. Adec has earlier announced it would offer free land to entrepreneurs willing to build new Indian schools in the capital. However, some school operators say that new building standards issued last year will make the cost of opening new schools prohibitive.