Aldar Academies, one of Abu Dhabi’s private education providers, has marked its tenth anniversary celebrations today by announcing plans for further expansion, including the opening of its first nursery within the next few months. It also plans to open more schools by the end of 2019, with the establishment of Aldar Education, a new parent company which will lead the evolution of its education network.

Last month, at the beginning of the 2017-2018 academic year, Aldar Academies took over the operations of four ADNOC Schools across the Al Dhafra Region and Abu Dhabi, making them one of the largest education providers in the emirate.

A statement issued on the occasion underlines the commitment of Aldar Academies to support the educational goals of Abu Dhabi’s Economic Vision 2030 plan, which seeks to create a knowledge-based economy for the emirate. Aldar Academies, the statement says, play a pivotal role in preparing the UAE’s next generation to shape the future.

"During our ten years of excellence, I’m proud to say that Aldar Academies has made a lasting contribution to Abu Dhabi’s emergence as one of the very best destinations in the world for education," Nilay Ozral, Aldar Academies CEO, said. "This progress is thanks to the commitment of our magnificent teaching team, our passion in finding the most effective ways to teach, and our investments in the most advanced education facilities available. This commitment has allowed our students to thrive, which is precisely what we are aiming for from our next ten years and beyond."

Three of Aldar Academies’ schools, Al Bateen Academy, Al Muna Academy and Al Mushrif School, which became part of Al Maamoura Academy in 2016, were among the five schools in Abu Dhabi that were rated as "Outstanding’ by the Department of Education and Knowledge, ADEK, in 2015-2016, out of 187 private schools in the emirate. The Al Yasmina Academy was rated as top school in Abu Dhabi, and 4th in the UAE, in June this year.

Last month, ADEK exempted two other schools, Al Yasmina Academy and The Pearl Academy, from the next round of inspections because they had maintained their high inspection rankings in the last round.

Last week, Aldar Academies launched their new ‘Academy of Excellence’ programme, which sees 250 students from across the group’s schools being selected to take part in a special programme designed to provide challenge, personalised learning and enrichment opportunities for exceptional students beyond the formal curriculum. The programme covers special tuition in four areas, music, sport, art and design and academic subjects.

In a speech to launch the programme, the Principal of Al Bateen Academy, David Hutson, told students and parents that the key objective of the Academy of Excellence was "to focus on skills, rather than knowledge."

Noting that "we live in a dynamic and competitive world" in which the rapid advance of technology meant that knowledge itself could rapidly become outdated, he quoted the philosopher Albert Einstein’s comment that "Imagination is more important than knowledge."

Beginning with the opening of The Pearl School for primary grades in 2007, with 247 students, the Aldar Academies network has now grown to seven academies, over 6,500 students and close to 1,000 employees, along with the addition of a further 7,000 students and 1,000 employees in the ADNOC Schools. Over AED 1 billion has been invested in its education network.