UAE schools experience last-minute admission rush
Many schools across the nation, particularly those with low fees, experienced a high demand for last-minute enrollments. Some are working non-stop, while others are adding more classes to accommodate the need.
Next Generation School Dubai's director of admissions and community relations, Sahar El Gayyar, noted a notable rise in last-minute admissions as the academic year nears. "In order to handle the increase, we will be expanding our operating hours, simplifying the admission procedure, and requesting extra help from our support and administrative staff."
The majority of students in the UAE will return to school on Monday, August 26, following their seven-week summer break. For some, it will mark the beginning of a new school year, while for others, it will be an ongoing continuation of the previous year that started in April.
Sahar stated that the eleventh-hour rush for admissions is a frequent occurrence. She stated that it usually happens because people move to the area or country, or because they make last-minute decisions. We strive to meet the rising number of applications to the best of our abilities. Nevertheless, it is difficult to secure a spot since the majority of grade levels are already at maximum capacity by now. At times, additional classes are opened to meet the high demand, particularly for the early years programme.
Staff at Hope English School in Sharjah have been working non-stop to accommodate the increasing number of new admissions. Admissions officer Alice stated that the majority of the 295 new admissions we received were for lower grades. A large number of them have moved to the UAE from different countries. In these instances, understanding the documentation process is a major challenge we encounter.
Agreed upon payment arrangement
The start of the school year often means a significant expense for lots of parents. Sharjah resident Niggat Abbas, who is a parent, has already used Dh25,000 just this week. She stated that she has three children who are currently enrolled in both school and college. The time when children return to school can be very costly. We attempted to discuss a payment arrangement with the school and university. The school declined, but fortunately, the university gave consent. This has been incredibly beneficial for us.
She mentioned that she and her spouse have been making efforts to reduce their expenses down to every dirham. She stated that we are currently in search of used books to avoid purchasing new ones and save money. "We have purchased uniforms from a separate store because they are less expensive than the ones sold by the school." We are searching for great bargains on stationary and similar items.
Divya P., whose children attend a British curriculum school here, mentioned that she was purchasing her children's textbooks from India. She mentioned that she has two kids and can save Dh3,000 on their textbooks by ordering them from India. Once the book list was released, I immediately made a purchase for all of them. In the upcoming week, my brother is scheduled to arrive in Dubai and he will bring along the books.
Increase in need for inexpensive educational institutions
Father Mohammed Iqbal recently switched his children to a less expensive school. He mentioned that he was spending around Dh55,000 annually for his two children, which was the maximum amount he could comfortably afford. Upon hearing about the rise in school fees, I made the choice to begin shopping for school supplies.
This academic year, he enrolled his children in a school that charges an annual fee of Dh30,000. He mentioned that the cost covers both books and school uniforms. I can save approximately 50 percent on my school fees, which is a considerable amount. I am simply wishing for my children to adjust well to the new school.
Earlier this week, Gems Education, the biggest private school operator in the UAE, announced that their Founders School model, with an average tuition of around Dh30,000, has been highly sought after. The team is launching two school campuses in Abu Dhabi and Dubai South. Authorities mentioned that they had witnessed a massive reaction. Dr Saima Rana stated that thousands of parents attended the Open Day that took place last week.
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