UAE | Education

Home-schooling a way to beat rising fees

Some UAE residents are opting to home-school their children as they are hit hard by the rise in living costs and expenses in the country.

  • By Siham Al Najami and Maysam Ali, Staff Reporters
  • Published: 23:24 July 26, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: Supplied Picture
  • Some residents are planning to home-school children, but acknowledging lack of social interaction offered at schools, some mull sending their children back home.

Dubai: Some UAE residents are opting to home-school their children as they are hit hard by the rise in living costs and expenses in the country.

One such case is a Sudanese civil engineer who has been a resident for less than a year and was hoping to make enough money to offer his children a good education but was overwhelmed by the expenses. He ultimately decided to home school his five-year-old twins.

"I am not in favour of home-schooling but given the circumstances it can turn into the only option for people with low-income salaries. I visited a few private schools, they are all requesting around Dh9,000 for each child and that's only for KG2," said A.M.

Registration

The twins are being home-schooled by their mother using the Ministry of Education curriculum but they are not registered with any institution.

"Next year I might register them at a private school. Of course they will have to pass entry exams to go to grade one. I still have my doubts, apart from the fees, I am worried about the presence of different nationalities and religions in some schools. Today's children are picking up ideas and words that are not within their cultural and religious beliefs," said A.M.

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He said he might consider sending his twins back to Sudan as he firmly believes in the importance of getting education from schools and does not want his children to continue with home-schooling as it limits social interaction.

Shahzad Afzal, a Pakistani, also a new resident in the UAE, said he is considering returning to Canada as they offer better education, for free. His reason for coming to Abu Dhabi was to save money but it is not possible with the costs of rent and school fees.

Afzal said he is planning to home-school his five-year-old daughter from next year since school fees are increasing annually.

An option open to all

Dubai: Home-schooling, offered by the Ministry of Education, is open to all nationalities but the curriculum is offered solely in Arabic.

Abdul Qadir Al Ameri, manager of the Adult Education and Home Schooling Department at the Administrative Services Unit in the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, said there are "a few cases where parents choose home-schooling because of ... expenses. They are mostly working adults, who couldn't pursue their education at a younger age."

Home-schooling is authorised for UAE nationals from grade 6 if the pupil is over 14 years. Home-schooling is open to expats from grade 1, even if the child is in the same age group as other pupils. Home-learners, currently 14,000, can register at the education zone of their emirate and have to pay Dh150, covering book expenses.

Are you considering home schooling your child? Do you think it would provide a better quality of education as compared to conventional schooling? Why?

Your comments


With the rising costs of school fees, this should be an option that the ministry should consider exploring. Ministry has to find options for the low and medium income groups to be able to give basic education to their child...education is a right to every child whether a national or an expat...they are foundations of our society...don't make it into a business and rip off people who cannot afford it! There has to be a reasonable limit!!
Barkha
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 27, 2008, 12:02

Indian schools are affordable. Schools such as Our Own English High School, Dubai charge dh.695 for 10th graders and Dh.495 for 2nd graders.
Hamida
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 27, 2008, 11:57

With one daughter going to school, I am aware how much the expenses are, the school fees are high, by which a normal person cannot afford it. So we request the government to revise the school fees.
Neelam
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 27, 2008, 11:01

I am from Bangalore, India; I have a 3 years old child. I have searched for a school but the fees are too high for KG1, now I am forced to send my 3 year old son back to Bangalore to study, as I do not believe in home schooling, as the child won't learn all that well as going to a school and there will be no social interaction at all. I hope that the school fees will come down or the companies raise our salaries or our companies pay for our accommodation then for sure I will be able to keep my son here with us.
SP
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 27, 2008, 10:49

For decades US homeschoolers have effectively addressed the socialization issue by gathering in groups for cooperative classes and play. The Ministry of Education could facilitate networking among homeschoolers to create strong and supportive communities for these children
L. Mavromati
Los Angeles,USA
Posted: July 27, 2008, 10:40

We have come to the time where education and health care are very good buiseness, 3 billion Dhs where collected at the dubai care campain for education, i think that it must be used to help people in this country before going to 3rd world?
tariq ziad
Sharja,UAE
Posted: July 27, 2008, 10:03

Home Schooling is not advisable. Children will not have any social interaction. School is not the place only to study; it is a place where a lot more is taught, for e.g. Sports, games etc. If a child sits at home and studies, he will not have any competition and that will put him/her down. The future of any country depends upon the children. Keeping this in mind, the schools in UAE should not charge for schooling, so that everyone can afford schooling.
sreeja
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 27, 2008, 09:44

I do not currently have children but I was home schooled all the way and support it. I am now 23 years old and looking back, I do not feel like I missed out on socializing and plan to home school my children. I hope more people do it and not just to save money.
Moriah
Richmond,USA
Posted: July 27, 2008, 09:37

My child is just 11 months old. By the time she is old enough to go to start school the situation will be much worse. We have to open our minds to new options if the current trend continues. If the Ministry of Education does not put a curb on the current rate of fee hikes, education will be a luxury afforded only by the rich.
Shanavas
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 27, 2008, 09:21

For me home schooling is one of the best substitutes or alternative for education here in Dubai and across the UAE, when your salary is not that enough to support them to enroll in a private school.
Mang
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 27, 2008, 08:08

Home school is a better educational option if both parents are committed, and they are highly educated, and are willing to spend the savings on socialization. To prove the fact that home schooling develops more intelligent children, for the past 5 years, the nationally held spelling championships has been won by a home schooler!!:-) I would advise most to use the home schooling tools as a supplement. With the savings the parents can purchase computers, educational DVDs, microscopes, electronics kits, and amass nice reading materials for their children.
Daron
DUBAI,USA
Posted: July 27, 2008, 08:02

There is a super school that offers a homeschooling curriculum for grades Kindergarten through 8th grade. It is a very thorough curriculum and for an extra charge an advisory teacher can keep your child's test records and offer a proper report card at the end of the year. The name of the school is Calvert School and they are located in Baltimore, Maryland. Another great thing about this curriculum is that they send you almost all of the supplies that you need to complete the curriculum. Of course, parent involvement is a must.
S. Baluch
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 27, 2008, 05:18

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