Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek) is offering an investment opportunity with an extra 4,600 school seats in new American and British curriculum schools to be built in the capital city.

The two American curriculum schools that will open their doors by the academic year 2020-21 are located in Al Maqtaa and Khalifa City that can accommodate 900 and 1500 students respectively, said a press release issued by Adek on Wednesday. The third school is a British curriculum school located in Khalifa City with a capacity of 2,200 seats.

The Adek announced this during a workshop organised for a large number of investors and operators, of whom a few will be selected to build and operate these schools based on their qualifications and proposals.

One of the pre-requisites discussed by Adek during the meeting was that up to 40 per cent of students at the American curriculum school in Al Maqtaa must include “the people of determination”.

Dr Tareq Al Ameri, Business Development Division Manager at Adek’s Private Schools and Quality Assurance (PSQA), explained that with an estimated student growth of five per cent annually, Adek continues to open further investment opportunities for private schools.

“Abu Dhabi is an investment hub. Investments in private schools continue to boom,” he said. Therefore, Adek is committed to provide prime location plots for qualified investors, Dr Al Ameri said.

The investors appreciated the transparency provided by Adek’s PSQA sector.

Mohammad Al Shamma, owner and managing director of the International Community School in Abu Dhabi, said that the forum provided answers to the questions that were on his mind. "I look forward to fulfilling the requirements needed by PSQA in order to win the tender,” he said.

Nilay Ozral, CEO at Aldar Academies, said that quality should not be compromised in education.

Dr Ali Al Mazroui, chairman of board and owner of Virginia International School said that he attended the workshop to meet different investors and operators in the market. He said he was interested in the bid.