Schools in Dubai and across the UAE are running full despite the economic crisis and claim to have witnessed no drop in numbers. On the contrary, there has been an increase in the number of students enrolling in schools this year as per leading private education providers in the country.
"Our schools have witnessed an 11 per cent increase in enrolment this year," Clive Pierrepont, Director of Communications at Taaleem group, which operates nine schools across the UAE, told Emirates 24|7.
Richard Forbes, Director - Marketing & Communications at Gems Education, one of the largest operators of private schools in the country, too claims that student numbers have continued to grow this year despite all the recession talk.
"The numbers in our schools are very robust and are higher than in previous years across all price points," he told this website.
Gems operates 25 schools across the UAE, with 16 of them in Dubai, and probably holds the honour of providing both the cheapest as well as the most expensive school education in the country.
The Gems Education-operated Our Own Indian School charges an annual tuition fee of Dh3,723 for KG and goes up to Dh7,570 for Grades 11 and 12. On the other end of the spectrum, Gems World Academy, also operated by Gems Education, charges Dh53,000 annual fees for pre-Kindergarten, going up to Dh92,000 for Grades 11 and 12.
With the organisation witnessing an increase in student numbers "across all price points", it is safe to assume that expensive schools have not lost students to the cheaper ones. And anecdotal evidence supports that view.
Repton school, which charges Dh42,500 for nursery and goes up to Dh85,000 for Year 12 and 13, say classes are currently full.
"At the moment there are no seats available. However, there may be some withdrawals during Christmas time or January, so we can place your child on the waiting list, which is not too long," the registrar of the school told this website, when it enquired about admissions to Year 1.
Horizon School, which follows the National Curriculum of England, is also running full. "Sorry, we don't have any seats right now," the registrar confirmed.
Parents with whom this website spoke say it's definitely difficult getting a place in good schools.
A German mother, who lives in the Springs community, has been trying to get her son admitted to Dubai International School (DIA) for two years now. "They are all full. I've been trying to get my five-year old into the school but there are no seats available," she said.
Another mother who wants her son to attend school in Emirates Living due to the less commute from her home in Jumeirah Lake Towers, complains there are no seats available in the schools she's tried.
"I've tried in three schools - DIA, Dubai British School and Emirates International School in the Meadows. They are all full and my son is on the waiting list," she said.