Dubai-March 15th 2006 (WAM) -- At an event held under the patronage of Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Economy, Beacon Education today officially inaugurated the Al-Mizhar American Academy School for Girls (AAG) in, Dubai. AAG, an elite school dedicated to single-gender, multicultural education based on a student-centered experiential American curriculum, opened its doors to female students for the first year of operation on September 17, 2005.

"Empowering girls in an environment custom-made to enhance intellectual curiosity, independent thinking, problem solving skills and respect for cultural diversity is very important if we are to produce future leaders," said Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi.

"Research has shown that girls learn differently than boys, it is therefore very important that we create a positive learning climate that takes full account of girls' particular learning needs, as a precondition for their educational success." Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi's statement came at a ribbon cutting ceremony that took place at AAG in the presence of Jason Davis, U.S. Consul General, Delice Scotto, AAG principal, Ziad Azzam, CEO of Beacon Education, AAG students and their parents.

Years of in-depth research into the issue of single gender education have proved that girls perform better in girls-only schools.

Girls' schools are better able to instruct and inspire female students to focus on their long-term educational, personal, and professional goals by providing rigorous standards, high expectations, accountability and positive role modeling. The single gender school environment affirms and encourages young women in their capacities as confident individuals, leaders and agents of social change.

"Another particular benefit is that girls are surrounded by strong female role models who help reinforce the 'can-do' attitude that helps build confidence and leadership skills. An all girls' school provides a safe environment where girls feel empowered to work out who they really are and crystallize their particular interests, both in the classroom and on the sports fields, without their choices being influenced by gender stereotyping," said Delice Scotto, Principal of AAG.

A native New Yorker with a masters degree in Educational Leadership from New York University, Scotto has been an educator for 30 years, twelve of which have been spent in the Middle East.

Early in her career, Scotto's interests turned to answering the distinctive needs of girls through single gender schools. She was one of the founding principals of the American Academy for Girls in Kuwait, where she was directly responsible for the development of the middle/high school program and was subsequently appointed Superintendent.

Following a choir recital and a piano performance by the students, the guests were escorted on a tour of the facilities that cover a built up area of 134,292 square feet and house state of the art computer labs, well stocked libraries, art studios, music rooms, science labs, a pool, gymnasium and a mini auditorium.

"We believe that education is the foundation from which future generations of leaders are created. AAG is an elite school that provides a high standard of education for girls, using best practice derived from extensive international research and localized experience," said Ziad Azzam, Beacon Education's CEO. "Our specific individualized education delivery mechanisms have been developed to place girls first and foremost and cater for their distinctive learning requirements in a dynamic, multicultural school environment." Set up in 2003, Beacon Education's mission is to nurture excellence in all aspects of education and personal growth. The company's school portfolio includes Al-Mizhar American Academy School for Girls (AAG), the Dubai British School, Raha International School, The Children's Garden and Uptown Primary.

With a mandate to elevate the standards of private education in the region, Beacon Education aims to level the playing field amongst students in the Middle East and their counterparts in top international schools.

Beacon Education is financed by Taaleem, a unique Private Joint Stock company established in Dubai. Over the next six to eight years, Taaleem will invest over AED 1 billion in educational ventures across the region.

Al-Mizhar American Academy School for Girls (AAG) is a unique American curriculum school catering for the distinctive learning needs of girls through to Grades 12. The school has been built as a direct response to the rising global appreciation for the benefits of single gender education. What sets AAG apart from other schools in the region is the in-depth understanding, based on decades of extensive experience and research, of how adolescent girls learn and succeed. AAG is committed to offering its students a unique learning environment that places girls first and foremost.

Research shows that girls learn differently from boys, and what AAG offers is a seat in a school that expertly addresses each girl's specific learning needs. At AAG, our students will encounter strong female role models and enjoy the greatest number of opportunities to develop leadership skills.

Beacon Education was established to address the growing need for high quality schools in the UAE and the Middle East as a whole. Dubai is the platform from which the company launched its initial projects that include Al-Mizhar American Academy School for Girls (AAG), the Dubai British School, The Children's Garden and Uptown Primary.

Beacon Education is financed by Taaleem, a unique Private Joint Stock company established in Dubai as an investment vehicle intent on raising the standard of education in the Middle East.
 
Over the next six to eight years, Taaleem will invest over AED 1 billion in educational ventures across the region.