Budgets 'way short of what is needed'

Ras Al Khaimah: The budgets allocated to renovate many of the older public schools in Ras Al Khaimah are much less than actually needed, say school officials in the emirate.

Public schools in Ras Al Khaimah frequently prepare lists of requirements to submit to the Educational Zone which are taken into consideration in line with the annual budget. Those budgets, say principals, are not enough.

Many principals said that most of the public schools were built in the early 1980s and are in urgent need of replacement. The condition of the schools is so bad that renovation will not be sufficient, they say.

Principals said the "old buildings" were the key problem in most of the public schools which lack a number of key facilities.

The principals and educational officials said the old buildings lack spacious areas for playgrounds, laboratories, libraries, assembly halls and other facilities "urgently" needed by the school. Public schools, say principals, have repeatedly complained about "old-fashioned" toilets after receiving complaints from students and parents.

Lack of adequate air-conditioning, they said, was a key problem in schools which students regularly complain about.

Schools in certain areas also have to deal with overcrowded classrooms as pupils choose to enrol in schools that are close to their homes.