FNC is right to raise the issue of school fees

Readers praise the FNC for taking up the school-fee issue. Other topics: municipality fee, Amal Clooney, tipping

Readers thank the FNC for taking up the issue of sharp increases in school fees. Sammy Dallal / The National
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I support the FNC's call for tighter limits on school fees (FNC to call for limits on rises in school fees, Apil 10). In this context I would like to point out that my child's school charges double the price of textbooks.

Are they in the business of teaching or selling books for a profit? This is despicable.

Sara Smith, Abu Dhabi

School fees are back-breaking for many families. As the education authorities allow private schools to increase fees based on their grading, it’s parents who suffer. There is no need to mention that no one has got a hike in their wages for the past few years.

While some people can still afford to live a comfortable life, others are struggling under the mounting pressure of rents, fees and spiking commodity prices.

I request the authorities to be considerate and prevent schools from raising fees.

Name withheld by request

It’s good that someone finally took note of this. If school fees and rents are allowed to be increased by a certain percentage every year, then it should be mandatory for companies to also increase staff salaries by the same percentage every year. Low and stagnant wages are taking a toll on expatriates.

My high school education did not cost as much as my daughter’s primary education. It’s time the authorities intervene.

Manisha Dutta, Abu Dhabi

Municipality fee is not for all

The article Abu Dhabi homeowners told to alter value of homes to avoid municipality fee (April 11) is misleading. It does not state if you work for the Government you don't pay the fee.

You pay if you are an expatriate and work for a private company. But again Emiratis are exempt from this fee.

Robert Bradley, Abu Dhabi

The question is why people are being forced to pay to the end of the lease even if they agree amicably with their landlords to break the lease.

Carol Goodey, Abu Dhabi

Clooney isn’t the right example

In reference to Rafia Zakaria's opinion article The grave dangers of celebrity advocacy (April 11), Amal Clooney was acknowledged as a world-class human rights barrister long before she met George Clooney.

If anything, her excellence in her field has actually raised his profile. Her position in UN affairs is not a result of her being a celebrity, but a result of her expertise and excellent track record in this arena.

Niamh O'Doherty, Abu Dhabi

How can Amal Clooney be compared to film actresses who have become ambassadors is beyond me. At the time the celebrity press wondered if her marriage to George Clooney would last considering how seriously she took her job.

Catherine Korb, Dubai

To tip or not to tip?

In reference to the article Tipping in the UAE: Some are more equal than others (April 6), I tend to think you shouldn't tip here, because if you do so then waiters' wages will never be raised. They get insanely low salaries compared to the outrageous margins on food and drinks here.

Thomas Mnt, Dubai

I tip almost always. The service in the UAE is stellar and most of these individuals don’t make as much as they deserve. I always try and leave a 10 per cent to 20 per cent tip.

Haneefa Corbie, Dubai