The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has joined forces with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council to offer a comprehensive range of extra-curricular sporting activities to children and their families at the emirate’s community schools.

The two government agencies have vowed to implement a new community schools initiative to promote sports and physical fitness among the children of Abu Dhabi.

Adek’s 15 community schools will host after-school coaching and competitions, effectively doubling up as community sports facilities.

NEW COMMUNITY SCHOOLS INITATIVE

“We have the know-how as Abu Dhabi Sports Council, they have the school facilities,” said Major General Mohammed Al Romaithi, deputy chairman of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council.

“This memorandum of understanding enables us to use the facilities that they have to bring in students on their own time and train them with professional trainers and improve the quality of life for our students.

“It will definitely increase their performance in school in general and also will help address obesity and diabetes problems.”

The initial offering from ADEK and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council will include after-school swimming, fencing and judo classes for students and their families who are within the respective catchment areas.

ADEK chairman Dr Ali Al Nuaimi added: “The school in the evening will be like a community centre or a hub to serve the community in different aspects, and one of them involves the Abu Dhabi Sports Council.

“It is enabling the school to play a different role related to integrating with the community. The school will have a role that will play in the evening and during the holidays as a base for the community in different aspects, one of them being sports.”

Dr Al Nuaimi also revealed that ADEK plans to have another 35 community schools in place over the next two years, bringing the total up to 50.