Plans unveiled to build hundreds of schools in Middle East

Plans to build hundreds of schools throughout the Middle East have been revealed at this week's school building conference in Abu Dhabi, BSEC MENA.

The Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) is to build 300 schools in the next eight to 10 years, including 100 green schools by 2012.

It has invited contractors to prequalify for the school building programme.

Alberto Treves, section manager, educational design, ADEC, said: "We are in the process of deciding whether to appoint a single contractor for the whole project or several firms. We see pros and cons to both approaches."

The green schools' sustainable features will include water recyling and solar shading.

ADEC is working on model school designs with a joint venture conmprising two US architects, SHW Group and Fielding Nair International, which specialise in schools.

Saudi Arabia also set out plans to prioritise education building programmes, including allocating 18% of its annual budget to education investment.

The kingdom's SR9bn King Abdullah Project for General Education Development will be rolled out over the next six years and includes SR4.2bn earmarked for building and rennovating schools.

Ali Alhakami, project director of the King Abdallah project said he welcomed foreign consultants:

Jordan also laid out plans to rennovate 3000 schools under its Madrasiti programme, with 500 of these in urgent need of attention.

It also plans to extend the programme into the Palestinian territories.