Fujairah: A new management has plucked one school from the depth of mediocrity by acquiring some much-needed class equipment and challenging the students' attitude.
The principal of a Fujairah school, who wished to remain anonymous, said when she first arrived at the school, before the start of the current school term, she was shocked at the state of the school.
"We found that we had to spend most of our term budget on basic necessities which shouldn't have been the case. The budget was gone in just two days because we had so much to do and very little money," she said.
"We have 20-year-old equipment and in many classes we had nothing at all. "Now we bought projectors, lab equipment and we had the Red Crescent donate some water coolers, which we didn't have before, but we still lack many facilities such as a sports hall.
"Sometimes the students have to take sports classes in the school theatre because the heat of the school yard is too much to bear."
The school still suffers from a number of shortages - old air-conditioning units need replacing and nearly all door handles are broken.
The principal estimates the school needs up to Dh300,000 to bring it up to standard.
