Pakistani school faces closure after rent default

A Pakistani school in Dubai is facing imminent closure as Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is planning to revoke the education permit of the Al Farooq Pakistani School. The school faces ‘eviction’ from its rented premises in Hor Al Anz following ‘non-payment’ of rents, according to KHDA.

Muaz Shabandri

Published: Wed 6 Feb 2013, 9:03 AM

Last updated: Fri 3 Apr 2015, 4:29 AM

However, the school owner refuted the allegations and cited evidence proving the school has paid its outstanding rents.

“We are a low-cost school and we are doing everything in our capacity to keep the school running efficiently. However, we are left with very few options now and there is not much we can do,” said a spokesperson from the school.

The school operates from a rented campus in Hor Al Anz, leased by the Knowledge Fund in Dubai, a government entity which oversees the leasing of land to schools in the emirate. It was served an eviction notice in October 2012, for non-payment of rents, forcing the school to look for an alternative campus or face closure.

Following the notice, the school paid off all its rent and requested for a cancellation of the ‘eviction notice’ keeping in mind the future of students.

“We have paid all our rents and we are willing to continue the school from the current building. It is just a temporary arrangement since we have started construction work on our own campus,” said the school’s owner.

Construction work has already started on the new premises for the Al Farooq Pakistani School in the Al Qusais area and a new facility is being developed at a cost of Dh7 million.

Faced with increasing pressure from education authorities in Dubai to close down, the school is making every effort to retain students and rebuild confidence among parents.

KHDA has cited its neutrality in the issue by maintaining its role as a mere regulator. Mohammed Darwish, Chief of the Regulations and Compliance Commission at KHDA, said: “KHDA gave the school management a chance to come forward with its plan and solutions, but it hasn’t done this so far.”

He also cited that the KHDA was working to provide alternative arrangements for students since “the management of Al Farooq Pakistani School has not provided any evidence of finding alternative premises”.

While the school wants to continue offering education to students from Pakistani families in Dubai with low and middle level income, the non-renewal of the school’s lease agreement has left the school with no choice.

Al Farooq Pakistani School has been rated ‘unsatisfactory’ by the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau every year since its inspections began in 2009.

muaz@khaleejtimes.com