Parents transfer children out of Dubai school ahead of impending closure

Many are not waiting for the end of the academic year to end and are instead finding places for their children for the start of the new term in January.

Parents with children at the English College Primary School in Al Safa are removing the youngsters ahead of its impending closure in June.  Antonie Robertson / The National
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Preeti Kannan

DUBAI // Many parents have started removing their children from the English College Primary School after it said it was definitely closing in June next year.

In a bid to save the school, parents had offered to pay higher fees to keep the primary section open for its 400 pupils.

But several children are moving to other schools at the beginning of the new term next month, instead of waiting for the academic year to end.

“I am moving them in January because I want them to feel settled,” said one mother, whose sons study in foundation stage 1 and grade 5.

“With a school closing, children can feel insecure and I don’t want my kids to feel insecure.

“With a January start, it also means it is easier for them to forget English College, as opposed to staying there a year where they are more likely to be upset when leaving.”

The school had said it was shutting down because the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Dubai’s education regulator, had turned down its request to increase fees.

But in a letter to parents last week, William Johnston, the school’s headteacher, said: “The closure is for business reasons and is not related to fee increases.”

KHDA confirmed the school’s closure was a business decision.

“We regret the distress this has caused students, staff and parents at the school,” said Dr Abdulla Al Karam, the authority’s director general.

“KHDA is working with the English College to ensure the smooth transfer of students to schools of their choice.”

Parents said long waiting lists in schools, especially for children in lower grades, was forcing them to look for immediate alternatives.

“There are no places in schools where I want my children to go,” said Tatiyana Morozova, whose son is in foundation stage 2.

“I am happy with the English College and the teachers but we need to put the children in other schools so we can have seats for them. Unfortunately, we are in a bad situation.” Shelagh Estment, whose boys are in grades 4 and 6, said parents of younger children were the most upset.

"There are no places in Dubai for children in FS1, FS2 and grade 1," said Mrs Estment, who started a Facebook campaign, SOS English College Primary School, to save the school.

“This is causing huge upheavals among parents. Many are getting registered in several schools and are spending thousands of dirhams.”

Claire, a mother of two who did not wish to give her full name, is one of them.

“I have registered my children in at least four schools,” she said of her children, who are in FS1 and grade 4.

“I have spent Dh1,000 in registering both my children at each school. Every school I go to has at least 70 kids on the waiting list in the foundation years.

“The schools that are willing to accept them are either very far or charge Dh50,000 a year.”

Some schools have promised to put her younger child on the waiting list only if she pays the remaining term fees for December for her older child.

“I have to accept a place and pay Dh3,000 for December and then wait and see if they will offer a place for my younger one. If someone is going to step in, they have to do it now,” Claire said.

Parents are appealing to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to intervene.

“Many of us parents have tweeted and written letters to Sheikh Mohammed,” Mrs Estment said. “We hope he can step in and save the school.”

pkannan@thenational.ae