Parents in shock as school fails to reopen

Smiles soon gave way to disappointment for 50 students with learning difficulties as they stared at closed gates and a notice saying that the ‘owner had left the country and absconded with all the funds’.

by

Muaz Shabandri

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Published: Thu 6 Sep 2012, 9:01 AM

Last updated: Tue 7 Apr 2015, 11:56 AM

It was the first day of school for these children.

Some parents could not believe what they saw after they had paid for the entire school year in advance. And there was no reason for the school to close after accepting admissions.

The school in question is the St Andrews International School, a part of the British Institute for Learning Development, in Jumeirah. “I saw a few parents who had brought their kids in full uniform and some of the children who were crying at the school gate,” said Suleman Din, a parent.

An e-mail sent by the school informed some of the parents about the school not re-opening. Another parent who did not wish to be named had paid Dh85,000 as tuition fees for the entire year. It was supposed to be the first day of school for his child.

“Who is going to get the money back and how will we get another admission as other schools refuse such children? We are stranded in a difficult situation,” said the parent.

The Emirati sponsor HA, attended the parent queries at a special meeting to discuss what action could be taken.

“I am here to support the parents and I will try my best to help them in whatever way I can,” he said, Without funds in the bank account to pay teacher salaries and school expenses, the school does not have a management or owner to meet the costs of the new semester.

The e-mail sent by school authorities called on parents to seek clarification from the Ministry of Social Affairs.

A senior official from the Ministry confirmed that the school had not been closed down and there were some issues which had to be sorted. Speaking with Khaleej Times, Wafa Hamad bin Sulaiman, Director of the Department for People with Special Needs at the Ministry of Social Affairs said: “The school has not closed down and we would like to assure the parents that we are going to meet the school officials very soon to resolve the issue. Parents need not panic as there may be a slight delay in the reopening of this particular school.”

She also confirmed the ministry officials had scheduled a meeting with the school owner who was expected to return to Dubai late on Wednesday.

The school provides special care and education for children with learning difficulties.

The current academic year had 52 such students on roll.

Khaleej Times visited the villa school in Jumeirah on Wednesday afternoon to find two notices hanging on the school gate.

One of them put up by a parent, requested other parents to ‘file a police complaint and request for a transfer certificate.’

Kavita Parwani, another parent who had secured an admission was ‘disappointed’ and ‘surprised’. She had enrolled her son to start the first year of school and this was not the start she had expected.

“As every other school, we had paid in advance for the first semester and we were very happy to send our son to school. The school e-mail came as a big shock to our entire family. We don’t know what to do and where to seek an admission now,” said Kavita.

She added, “We really want the school to re-open because this is the only kind of school in Dubai which provides support for children with learning difficulties.”

Some parents have confirmed filing police complaints against the school’s British owner who has allegedly left the country.

The parents and school staff are looking at ways to begin the new semester but a ‘lack of funds’ has left few options for the parents.

muaz@khaleejtimes.com