iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
There were no immediate reports from authorities of damage or casualties
KT APPDOWNLOAD
Sharjah school students are still left in the lurch
There seems to be no relief for hundreds of students looking to join the Westminster School in Sharjah, as the school has not yet opened.
It’s been more than two weeks since other schools in the emirate have opened. The school management blames the delays on ‘pending’ approvals from authorities.
In an e-mail sent to Khaleej Times, a GEMS Education spokesperson said: “We have made significant progress in relation to the approvals required and are in the final stages of having the licence issued.”
However, the spokesperson could not provide details on how long it would take for the licence to come and whether students could transfer to other schools managed by the same education group.
The school principal, Valerie Thompson, hinted that a final approval was pending and the school would open “very soon’.
“We have received all of the approvals necessary to open the school except for security clearance, a federal requirement. This means that unfortunately we cannot open on Sunday, 23rd September,” says a message from the principal on the school website.
The school was expected to be ready in time for the new academic year as more than 600 students enrolled for classes. However, construction delays forced the school to postpone its opening.
The principal added, “We expect to receive approval to open very soon and request your patience for just a little longer.”
Frustrated parents who are left with no choice but to wait, called on the school to provide alternatives. A parent who did not wish to be named said, “Every morning my kids wake up when I go to office and ask me when they will be able to go to school. It is heart-breaking to see them take their bags and wait at the door everyday.”
The school invited parents for a campus tour on Monday. It may be recalled that most schools in the UAE opened on September 9. For the 600-odd students at the GEMS Westminster School, the back-to-school wait seems much longer than expected.
muaz@khaleejtimes.com
More news from
His captivating performances quickly garnered attention within the magic industry, propelling him to prominence as one of Dubai's most sought-after magicians
Cyclone Hidaya is likely to 'bring strong winds and large ocean waves, with heavy rainfall' expected to hit the coast starting Sunday
Vadra's artistic prowess knows no bounds, as evidenced by his diverse portfolio spanning wildlife, street photography, and commercial art
The Caribbean admitted to seven charges, including those related to franchise-based leagues in Sri Lanka, UAE and the West Indies, the ICC said
The CST-100 Starliner test mission will ferry two Nasa astronauts to the International Space Station
According to Palestinian prisoner associations, the health worker had been detained by Israeli forces while temporarily working at Al-Awada Hospital
Arfan Bhatti, a 46-year-old Islamist who has lived and is well-known in Norway, is suspected of having planned the attack