Parents fear fee hike as 38% schools await nod

It’s no longer about sending your children to schools that you might think are good, but about sending them to those schools that are stamped “outstanding” or “good” by the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB). And this, obviously, comes at a price. 

After the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) approved the schools to hike fees, based on the DSIB grading, earlier this year, 53 schools have applied for the mark-up, with the KHDA insisting they will publish the list once the requests were finalized. 

This effectively means, up until now, 38 per cent of Dubai schools are awaiting approval for the fee hike. 

Meanwhile, semi-official daily Alittihad, quoted Mohammed Darwish, director of the organization and planning at the Authority, as saying that "the Authority approved fee rises by 25 schools while it is studying the applications of the other schools."

Although most parents were pleased to see their children’s school graded at the top in the annual report, their happiness was short-lived as it meant shelling out more for their child’s education. 

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Parents, however, aren’t convinced that the increase in fees translates into an improved quality of education. “It’s not like if we pay more, they’ll teach our kids better?” questioned a parent, whose son studies in Dubai Modern High School. 

“I don’t think schools that are graded “outstanding” offer outstanding quality of education. They might offer good facilities, but that doesn’t automatically improve the quality,” stressed S Kumar, adding, “I’m interested only in a comfortable learning environment for my child and nothing more. In fact, I’m more interested in whether the education offered, in these schools, provide a good foundation for his higher education.” 

And the economic slow-down has only aggravated the situation, with many parents complaining of lack of job security. “No hike is welcome, period. As it is, the fees are so high and now it’ll only get costlier,” said a parent, whose child goes to Emirates International School. 

The mark-up, most parents claimed, will benefit only the school and not the teachers. “Teachers are paid so less, yet nothing is done about it. If this meant their salary was increased, then they would be motivated to do a better job,” stressed a parent. 

While the KHDA framework (https://www.khda.gov.ae/Pages/En/feeframeworken.aspx) clearly directs the schools “to handle all parental input and queries that are connected with the increases that are in line with the fee framework”, no formal communication has exchanged hands so far. 

“There’s been no official statement by the school yet, but I think it will come once they’ve got the KHDA approval,” said a parent, whose son goes to the “good” Millennium School. 

As per the KHDA guidelines, schools rated “outstanding” will be allowed 6 per cent increase, while schools marked “good” 4.5 per cent, and those listed as “satisfactory” and “unsatisfactory” allowed 3 per cent.

Not all schools are implementing children’s lunch box guidelines

What you pack in your child’s school lunch box is going to need a lot more planning, with the Dubai Municipality issuing an instructive poster that details what a healthy school lunch kit should contain.

Not only that, officials at the Food Control Department claimed that schools will be instructed on what they can serve in their canteens, and what they can’t, and this will help establish healthy eating habits among children.

The poster, titled “school lunch kit”, which will be distributed to all the schools soon, stresses on the inclusion of fruits, vegetables, milk, protein and grains.

The Dubai Health Authority also joins DM to present an ideal food chart that’s recommended for each age group.

“As part of the KHDA, we have been focusing on school food canteens because we want our kids to have a good choice of healthy food. Even in the Dubai Schools Inspections Bureau (DSIB) report we did focus on this aspect,” reported chief of Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau (DSIB), Jameela Al Muhairi, adding they want to focus on the overall development of a healthy lifestyle by encouraging schools to introduce sports and other physical activities, along with serving healthy food.

She admitted that some schools did dodge the guidelines just to please the school inspectors. “When we inspected some schools we did find how some changed what was being served. Some (schools) served fruits to the kids, but the students told us that this was new,” she added.

Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of KHDA, endorsed that “some schools are doing a good job, some are not. But, I think, today schools are accountable”.

The change, Muhairi insisted, will only take place when the schools decide to implement it without waiting for the authorities to impose it.

Most Dubai school principals have backed this point, and have, in fact, put it to practice.

“It’s just about how you model for kids what they should be eating at school… and at home. Look, we are not saying kids can’t have a treat every once in a while but schools should maximise their potential for health and safety,” stressed Robin Appleby, superintendent of Dubai American Academy, which was graded “outstanding” in the DSIB report.

“It will help to capture problems with diabetes, heart disease and obesity. You are not supposed to sell sweets, soda, fries and limit the students’ access to those kinds of products,” she added.

And just as important as a healthy diet, is the exposure towards regular physical activity, elaborated Emma Leigh-Bennett, Head of Secondary at Wellington International School. “It’s partly food but it’s also about sports. We’ve ensured that every child is given daily access to a sporting event.”

The school canteens, have been instructed, by the DM, not to sell soft drinks, energy drinks, fruit syrups, milk and yoghurt with artificial colours, lollipops, chewing gums, confectionaries with sugar and artificial colour, chocolates, food with sodium glutamate content, high fat foods and chips. 

[Image via Shutterstock]

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