Expats to get free education

Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi government is seriously considering to provide free primary education for expatriate communities in the emirate, according to a senior official.

"Emaratis represents less than 25 per cent of the country's population, and we were successful in presenting them with free education and seats at universities.

"Now the government is seriously considering introducing a free public education system for the non-UAE nationals," said Khaldoun Bin Mubarak, chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority, at the World Leadership Summit in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

About 30 per cent of the public schools have been privatised, while 25 to 30 per cent became model schools providing for a better education system, which has become one of the government's top priorities.

In the emirate's drive towards economic development, Bin Mubarak said that a more prominent role is to be given to the private sector, and accordingly the government's weight is to diminish gradually. "We were successful in empowering the private sector and enhancing corporate governance that we were able within the past two years to cut down the number of government employees from 65,000 to 28,000, and in 2007 we are working to further cut this number to 10,000 employees," he said.

However, the Abu Dhabi government is working according to a comprehensive plan to provide for jobs for those who will be affected by the new policy, given the strong drive it has been giving to the private sector to lead the economic development of the emirate, Bin Mubarak told Gulf News.

"Our intention is that the government should have the minimal role in the economic development, and that explains our aggressive privatisation policy," he added, illustrating the successful privatisation of the power and water sector in Abu Dhabi, providing a good example for the emirate's long term plans.

Abu Dhabi is currently carrying out a master development plan, according to Bin Mubarak, where a more robust and dynamic role for the private sector is sought, and with education and healthcare at the centrestage.

"The healthcare system of Abu Dhabi is witnessing strong reforms by opening up for international reputed hospital operators such as John Hopkins and Cleveland," he added.

He noted the unique nature of the UAE, where officials are directly accountable to the rulers, and whose door is always open before the public to present their complaints.