Dubai: The St Andrews special needs school that closed down on Wednesday will reopen on Sunday, according to a senior official from the Ministry of Social Affairs.
The school, which is also known as the British Institute for Learning Development(BILD), had closed down amid accusations that its owner Dr. Christopher Reynolds has fled to Australia with all the funds.
However, the Manager of the Special Needs Department at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Wafa Hamad Bin Sulaiman, confirmed that the institute which caters for 53 children from grade one to nine, will open for regular classes on Sunday.
“We are trying to support the school in whatever way we can and we will find a solution. We are also working with different authorities and school officials and we assure parents that the school will be back in operation,” said Bin Sulaiman.
Sources in the Ministry also claimed that the institute’s licence was not renewed for this year, which could not be officially confirmed.
Despite assurances from the Ministry, the parents are worried as they are not sure whether the school can be operated without the funds, allegedly siphoned off by the owner.
“I don’t understand how they will run the school without the funds, resources and teachers. There are only three teachers and five therapists and I’m sure you cannot run a school with than number. Besides there is no money and there are salaries due,” said Sulaiman Din, parent of nine year old girl who went to BILD.”
According to Din, there is no alternative in sight for the parents in Dubai.
“I was very happy with the progress of my daughter, who has attention deficiency. I moved from Egypt to Dubai only for this school and in last two years I have seen my daughter improve tremendously. She is more confident and a completely different person from what it used to be before,” added Din.
Most parents paid an annual fee in excess of Dh80,000.
At least eight parents have already paid full annual fees of Dh80,000 for this academic year.
While almost all parents have paid at least a quarter of that amount, all of which according to school management has been liquidated by the owner and the school now has no money to even pay salaries.
“There is an immediate requirement of Dh400,000 to begin operations of the school. As there are due salaries to be paid. There are unpaid DEWA bills and rent. There are no resources like books, stationery etc.
“So I don’t understand how they will start the school. But all parents will go on Sunday and give at shot. We just hope something can be worked,” Sanjay Raina, another parent, who has a 14 year old boy going to BILD.
A senior official from Dubai’s Community Development Authority (CDA), Dr Bushra Al Mulla confirmed that there no other specialised learning development schools in Dubai, which these parents can approach.
“I’m afraid, there are not many choices for these parents who sent their kids to BILD. There are some special needs centres but most of these are rehabilitative in nature. There is no such institute where a child’s all special needs including the academics can be fulfilled and this is a sad situation,” said Al Mulla, who is the Director of Early Childhood Development Centre at CDA.
She added that the only option for parents is to approach mainstream schools that have the facilities to cater to their needs.
“I would encourage mainstream schools to accept more cases and open their doors and help these kids. With private schools being profit making , it should be part of their corporate social responsibility and a way to give back to the community,” she added.
