Lottery system popular procedure

Dubai: Schools have devised various strategies from the lottery system to merit examinations to ensure a fair distribution of available seats in their kindergarten sections.

One of the methods followed is the lottery system where those lucky enough to have their names drawn secure seats in their preferred school of choice.

Schools announce the dates on their website or through circulars as to when parents can collect the admissions forms. While submitting the duly filled forms, parents will be given two coupons or admission numbers, one of which has to be deposited in a box kept in the school.

The other coupon will be retained by the parent and used as a reference number against the submitted admission form for his or her child.

On a previously announced date, in the presence of all prospective parents, lots are drawn in correspondence to the number of seats available for the academic year.

Hassle free

According to many school managements, the lottery system is favoured among many parents as it is transparent and rules out favouritism and foul play by schools.

Instead of a manual raffle draw system, some schools have adopted an online lottery system where parents have to submit their applications online by logging onto the schools' website.

After the dates are closed for online submissions, the computer randomly selects applicants according to seat availability.

Some schools say they prefer the online lottery system to the manual draw as it spares unnecessary paperwork and is hassle-free for both parents and school administrations.

Yet another system which is still followed by some schools is the face-to-face interview with the child and the parents — before the school decides whether the child is eligible for a seat.

Although this method often comes under flak from parents, schools insist that it is their prerogative to decide whether the child deserves a chance to be educated in their institution.