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28 March 2024

Admissions full at Abu Dhabi’s Indian schools; parents’ options?

Published
By Sneha May Francis

With admissions to kindergarten in most Indian schools closed for the April 2016 intake, some parents say they’re thinking of moving to other emirates for their children’s schooling.

“Even though I applied to many schools, I haven’t been able to get a seat anywhere,” said an Indian parent, requesting anonymity. “Looks like I will have to move to Dubai, because I don’t want my child to miss a school year.”

The admission process, he added, is based on luck.

“Most admissions to kindergarten are through lot system, or first-come, first-serve basis. Some schools didn’t even have seats open as it was filled in the ‘sibling quota’.”

He informed that the waiting list for kindergarten is very long.

When Emirates24|7 checked with a few Indian schools, they confirmed that admissions for 2016 are closed.

An official at the Abu Dhabi Indian school said the draw for kindergarten was done.

“We are closed for April 2016 intake,” she said. Their online registration closed on January 20. “We have one draw on February 6, for nearly 25 seats. Some for grade 1 and older classes.”

Global Indian School said seats to kindergarten and class one were full.

“We have few seats for senior classes,” a staffer said.

Bright Riders School was unable to offer new admissions to kindergarten.

“We completed the process with ‘sibling quota’,” an official informed.

Model School staffer said the admissions to KG 1 was closed, and the entrance exam for KG2 will be held on February 7.

“Parents must register their children online, and then we hold an entrance exam, which will determine whether they make it or not.”

A top official from Bhavans said admissions were closed, and the admissions were done on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“We have not applied for more seats because we do not have the capacity.”

The Gems United School, however, informed that they were still open for admission to kindergarten.

“We request parents to register online, and wait for our call for internal assessment,” an officer said. “We are open till March 31. In fact, we are in the process of applying to Adec for more seats.”

A response from Adec (Abu Dhabi Educational Council) is awaited.