H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, inaugurated today (Sunday, November 16, 2008) the ‘Ras Al-Khaimah American School’, the first American International Expatriate Curriculum School in the northern emirates. The institution is an initiative of Khoie Education, a member of the Khoie Group of Companies, which has invested AED 20 million towards the setup. Further, the school is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge technology, research-based programs and materials, and new methods for teaching and learning. The inauguration ceremony was followed by a press conference, which hosted senior officials from the Khoie Group including Frank Khoie, CEO, Khoie Group; Dan E. Young, CEO/Education Projects Director, Khoie Education; and Larry Audet, Principal, Ras Al-Khaimah American School.
Approved by the UAE Ministry of Education as the only comprehensive English language, American-based curriculum school in Ras Al Khaimah, the ‘Ras Al-Khaimah American School’ has been developed on a 2,500 square meter plot near the RAK Hospital and is able to accommodate up to 300 students. Offering expatriate international qualifications from around the world, the new institute includes classes from kindergarten all the way up to the fifth grade, and provides unique facilities and services such as special learning centre rooms for science lab, music and drama hall, full age-appropriate elementary level library, and computer room. Other facilities include a gymnasium hall, cafeteria, Early Childhood Exploration Center, Teacher Resource/Supply Room, English Language Learners (ELL) Program, Arabic Language and Culture Center, a swimming pool, a fully covered playground and sand areas, and 24-hour security.
Speaking at the conference, Dan E. Young said, "The opening of this new learning institute ushers in another exciting phase in the continued development of Ras Al Khaimah's education sector. The formative years are the most critical in a child's growth and proper education is definitely one of the factors that has a significant impact on this process. As such, the ‘Ras Al-Khaimah American School’ will offer a learning environment that promotes the development of children and will inculcate essential values that allow them to fully appreciate the highly multicultural community in which they live.”
“The Ministry of Education's proactive campaign to implement reforms to its education system has been one of the major reasons that have encouraged us to start this new venture and I would like to take this opportunity to thank His Highness Sheikh Saud for his support and commitment to the education sector, which is clearly manifested by his presence today. In the same vein, I would like to express my gratitude to the Ministry of Education for all the support they have given in realizing this project," added Young.
The ‘Ras-Al Khaimah American School’ is a purpose built international expatriate school that adheres to the best practices and curriculum standards of the United States of America. The school follows a K-12 program, and provides a standard and I.B diploma option following the completion of the accreditation process. Ras-Al Khaimah American School has been approved by the Ministry of Education to operate with a provisional license pending completion of paperwork for the final permanent license. At present, the school has been accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), the oldest (1885) of the six regional accrediting agencies in the United States, and by the Council of International Schools (CIS), an independent, non-profit membership organization of over 520 schools across 110 countries throughout the world.
"The realization of this project has motivated us further to conduct more initiatives that will help enhance the education sector, particularly through projects that cater to the expatriate community. Khoie Education will also work hand in hand with the local authorities and our international affiliates to explore innovative ways to boost our learning tools and resources. Furthermore, we plan to unveil new strategies to expand our premium educational facilities not just in Ras Al Khaimah but across the UAE," concluded Frank Khoie, CEO, Khoie Group.
Khoie Education and the ‘Ras Al-Khaimah American School’ have been launched as part of Khoie Group's greater initiative to provide the RAK expatriate community a wider range of amenities that cater to their cultural requirements and specific needs. Other parallel developments that are being undertaken include residential and commercial facilities such as Khoie Properties’ flagship project - La Hoya Bay - on the Al Marjan Islands in Ras Al Khaimah. In cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Khoie Education also plans to establish a K-12 facility adjacent to the ‘La Hoya Bay’ project and other premium brand schools throughout the UAE in response to the growing number of expatriate families moving into the country.
