Dubai gets advice on how to turn its schools Green

The group, led by HE Fatma Al Marri, CEO of Dubai Schools Agency, the first agency of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), toured schools in England that meet British sustainable building standards.

They also met experts who will advise on how to integrate environmental issues into all levels and aspects of learning.

In Germany the group, which included a chemistry teacher, a laboratory technician and a laboratory supervisor, went shopping for lab equipment and furniture for new Government schools being built in Dubai.

They have ordered a "pull-down lab" which has everything needed for a science lesson hanging from a beam which is operated by the teacher. The lab equipment is attached to the beam, and gas and electricity is fed through it.

Fatma Al Marri said: "It is safe, which is most important, and the classroom can be used as a multi-purpose room, not just as a science lab. This will make the best use of classroom space. It will be the first time this idea has been put into use in the Middle East."

From September, a pilot scheme in seven schools in Dubai will begin to put Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into action. This is a system which introduces green issues into every subject and activity.

The KHDA aims to create a policy which will see all new schools built to the highest environmentally-friendly standards. The Authority also plans to set standards for the sustainability of existing schools.