Expatriate students in UAE are being urged to apply Abu Dhabi - Arabstoday The Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) has announced that enrolment of expatriate students in public schools in Abu Dhabi for the 2013-2014 academic has officially been opened, until Thursday March 28. Mohammad Salem al-Dhaheri, ADEC’s Executive Director of School Operations, said that ADEC seeks to provide students across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi appropriate education delivery in accordance with best international practices. He pointed out that parents must enrol their children in schools located within their residential area, provided that the number of students enrolled do not exceed 20 percent in a school class and that the number of students in one class do not exceed the approved student ratio, 25 students in Cycle 1 classes and 30 students in the Cycle 2 and Cycle 3 classes. "Only students whose parents have paid their school fees for the current academic year will be eligible for registration in the next academic year," al-Dhaheri explained. He emphasised that parents are required to pay Dh500 ($135) in order to secure a seat for their children in the next academic year. "Registration fees shall be part of the total tuition fees, Dh6000 ($1600). Students who fail to pay the registration fees will not be granted seats," he added. ADEC has set up a procedure for the payment of tuition fees within specific timelines. Parents would have to sign an undertaking indicating that they will pay the fees within the set timelines. For first graders, the student is required to pass the personal interview. In addition, the student must pass the admission test in Arabic, English and Mathematics, with an average grade of more than 90 percent. Students applying for grades two to 12 must pass the interview, and have succeeded in the previous year with an average grade of at least 90 percent, with an average of 85 percent or above in Arabic, English and Mathematics. The student must also pass the personal interview.